The Congress in Gajapati district seems to be getting stronger by the day with more numbers of people supporting leadership of Dr Tirupathi Panigrahi ahead of 2019 general elections.
Panigrahi, chairman of Hi-Tech Medical Collage, has been actively participating in various development and awareness programme to make the Congress stronger in Paralakhemundi Assembly constituency. Panigrahi has been active since Congress MlA K Surya Rao announced that he would not contest 2019 elections and Panigrahi would be the party candidate.
Acceptability of Panigrahi by people is all evident from the fact more than 20 BJD and BJP leaders joined the Congress in presence of PCC State president Niranjan Patnaik, PCC working president Pradip Majhi and observer Anil Choudhwary, district president Bibhuti Patra, Gajapati Rao, G Tirupathi Rao, Bala Raju at a meeting held at Bhawanipatna on Saturday.
BJD leader D Dharma Rao and Kerandi GP Nayab Sarapanch Gouranga Pradhan joined the Congress. They alleged that the ruling party is working opposite to what they preach, “We speak less, work more.” Pradhan alleged that deserving people are not get pensions and ration cards in the constituency. He said he has accepted the leadership of Tirupathi Panigrahi.