Congress candidate Dr. Ajoy Kumar and Congress Party District President Anand Bihari Dubey, along with senior leader Ramashray Prasad, addressed the media to discuss concerns about the conduct of BJP candidate Purnima Das's family and its potential impact on public safety.
In a press conference held in Sidhgora on Sunday, Dr. Ajoy Kumar raised doubts over Purnima Das's ability to ensure security for Jamshedpur East residents, given the alleged misdeeds of her husband Lalit Das, son of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das and current Odisha Governor. Dr. Kumar highlighted an incident from July 7, in which Lalit Das allegedly assaulted a Raj Bhavan official, Baikunth Pradhan, for not sending a luxury vehicle to pick him up from Puri railway station. Pradhan, an Air Force veteran, was reportedly assaulted within the Raj Bhavan premises in Puri, sparking backlash from the Congress, who called for action against Lalit Das.
“The issue isn’t just about one incident,” Dr. Ajoy remarked. “When Raghubar Das’s family members are involved in such controversies, how can the public be assured of their commitment to safety?” He added that the Odisha Congress has appealed to the Human Rights Commission for a swift investigation.
Dr. Kumar further alleged that other family members of Raghubar Das have been involved in similar incidents. He cited a case from 2023 involving BJP leader Kamlesh Sahu, Raghubar Das's nephew, accused of forcibly entering a home to seize documents. In another incident, Raghubar 's brother Moolchand Sahu was implicated in a 2017 assault of a Sikh boy at a police station.
“There’s a clear pattern here, and it’s for the people of Jamshedpur to decide if they want leaders linked to such conduct,” Dr. Ajoy stated.
In response, Congress President Anand Bihari Dubey emphasized that Dr. Ajoy Kumar’s victory would be a win for the Congress party’s values and Jamshedpur East’s commitment to integrity, transparency, and public safety.