Will the Congress high command suspend the party’s former MP Soumya Ranjan Patnaik on charge of indisciplineIJ The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), sources said, is seriously contemplating to make a recommendation in this regard to the AICC.
Members of the PCC Discipline Committee, at an informal meeting at the residence of Jayadev Jena a couple of days ago, discussed the issue relating to Patnaik. Soumya Patnaik has turned a rebel in the party after his elder brother Niranjan Patnaik was replaced as the PCC chief by Jena in May. Soumya Patnaik, also the son-in-law of present Assam Governor and former Odisha CM JB Patnaik, is running a parallel Congress show across the State not taking the State leadership into confidence. Soumya Patnaik has, meanwhile, held at least three meetings of party workers on his own at different places.
Reacting over Patnaik’s conduct, PCC chief Jena recently said, “The AICC is taking note of everything. The party high command will take appropriate steps in this regard.” Niranjan Patnaik has, however, kept himself away from his younger sibling’s activities, though his recent statement indicated that he has support for his rebel brother. “I don’t think he is indulging in any indiscipline,” Niranjan Patnaik said.