Fumed over redistribution of ticket given to Congress leader Umaballav Rath for Puri MLA seat, after a candidate already filed his nomination on party symbol, irate workers on Sunday barged into the party office at VIP road and went on ransacking it by turning the premises into debris yard. They damaged many belongings like chairs and tables after they knew of the ticket given to Uma at the eleventh hour. They termed the decision as blatant disrespect to their candidate Sujit Mohapatra, who has already completed nomination and expedited his campaigns in the constituency.
Reacting to the decision of the ticket to Uma and damages in the party office, Sujit said he was first taken aback by knowing the news. The damages done in the party office by workers is nothing but the fallout of the revised list, said Sujit. “I was given ticket for Puri Assembly seat earlier; I have filed nomination and have already begun massive campaigns in the constituency spending huge money from my pocket,” said Sujit who termed the decision completely childish and blatant disrespect to a senior leader of Congress.
After discussion with his supporters, he will decide on whether to stand independently or withdraw self from poll pray, he told.
Notably, in a peculiar development, Congress party on Sunday handed over its ticket to Uma for Puri MLA seat following its revised list. Since the party has nominated Sujit as an official candidate, the redistribution of tickets to another person sparked massive resentment in the city unit. Now the electors here will witness two parallel candidates from Congress, if Sujit stands in the election as an Independent.