Odisha Congress Lawmaker Jogesh Singh, Charged of 'Anti-Party Activities', Resigns Ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections
Sundergarh lawmaker Jogesh Singh resigned from Congress and also stepped down from the membership of the Odisha Assembly.
Bhubaneswar, January 18: Suspended by the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee for anti-party activities on Thursday, Sundergarh lawmaker Jogesh Singh resigned from the party on Friday and also stepped down from the membership of the Odisha Assembly.
Singh also threatened to join Biju Janata Dal after being allegedly falsely implicated in anti-party activities. He would be the second leader from the state, after Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das, willing to join Naveen Patnaik’s party. Working President of Odisha Congress Resigns from Party, to Join BJD.
Confirming the details, the Sundergarh MLA said, as reported by ANI, “I tender my resignation from the Indian National Congress Party on moral grounds. I also tender my resignation from the post of the Member of Odisha Legislative Assembly.” The two-time lawmaker has sent his resignation to party president Rahul Gandhi who is scheduled to visit the state on January 25 to take stock of the poll preparations for upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.
Earlier on Thursday, the state unit of Congress suspended Singh for repeatedly giving statements against the party to the media. However, Singh questioned the basis of his suspension, stating, “I could not find the answer that how praising the Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik, who is ranked as the best chief minister in India, become anti-party activity. I am quite astonished about the decision taken by the disciplinary committee of the Odisha Congress party without any show cause notice and explanation.”
Adding that he wasn’t the first person to praise Patnaik, Singh claimed several Congress leaders had done this during the UPA tenure. He said, “How did it become anti-party activity, I don't understand.”
However, state Congress unit opines that Singh’s joining BJD won’t have any impact on the party. OPCC disciplinary committee convener, Ananta Sethi, said that he is not aware of Mr Singh's resignation.
It is to be known that Assembly elections in Odisha will take place along with the Lok Sabha Elections in coming months, and with leaders quitting Congress, it would be interesting to see how the party performs.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 18, 2019 06:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).