Although the Congress made inordinate delay in selection of candidates for Sambalpur Assembly and Parliament seats, the party workers and aspirants have not taken the last minute’s selection easily. The result being, many Congress people resigned from the party on Wednesday night immediately after declaration of the candidates.
“Are we fools,” they asked with heavy hearts. “We devoted our lives for the party, suffered hardship, bore humiliation, but tickets will be given to flying birds,” they said.
As many as 14 leaders and workers resigned from the party just few hours after the nomination choices were declared. All of them are from Sambalpur, Burla and Hirakud.
Although the name of the district president of the party and former MLA
Aswini Guru was declared as the candidate for the Sambalpur Assembly constituency much earlier, but the last minute’s decision by offering ticket to Dr Aswni Pujahari, former Director of VIMSAR, Burla, has not only disheartened Guru but also to his supporters too.
However, Guru didn’t want to give his reaction saying: “I have no comment against party’s decision.” But his dissatisfaction was clearly marked from his voice.
Similar is the case with Sarat Patnaik, the Congress candidate for Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat. Patnaik is a veteran leader of the party and got elected from neighbouring Balangir LS seat earlier. He was also the PCC president.
But his candidature from Sambalpur s also has not been well digested here as he is a man from Balangir district. Similarly, Sanjukata Mohanty, a senior advocate and disciplined Congress worker who applied for the Parliament constituency of Sambalpur, got surprised at the decision.
“I was the only woman aspirant from Sambalpur. I hoped that the party as part of the respect and importance to the women will consider my case. But I am surprised at the declaration,” she said.