AICC showcauses 2 leaders for 'anti-party' activities

BHUBANESWAR: A disciplinary committee of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Sunday issued a showcause notice to two party leaders - Md Moquim and Chiranjib Biswal - for their alleged anti-party activities. Congress insiders said the party had taken serious view of an event that was organised on May 8 in Bhubaneswar by some party leaders and there, the speeches of Biswal and Moquim were reportedly of an anti-party nature. The meeting was organised two days before the Jharsuguda byelection.
While Moquim was not available for a comment, Biswal said he is yet to receive the notice. "I just drew a comparison in my speech between the then era of former chief minister J B Patnaik and former deputy chief minister Basant Biswal and the present leadership of Congress. Despite the difference of opinion, the two tall leaders were able to unite Congressmen and put up a united face. That is missing now with hundreds of opinions coming in. Nevertheless, I will reply to the show cause once I receive it," he added.
Moquim is now the sitting Cuttack-Barabati MLA. Biswal is a former MLA and current Congress working president.
The two senior leaders were not included in the party's list of star campaigners for the Jharsuguda bypoll. The duo had openly expressed their dissatisfaction over the selection of the candidate and the inclusion of some leaders, who were made part of the campaign committee.