Former Minister andsenior Congress leader Padmalochan Panda resigned from the primary membership of the party on
Sunday alleging “suffocation in the party”.
“I was suffocated in the party. Although I won several elections in the past and became a Minister, some party leaders backstabbed me in the last election and ensured my defeat. Therefore, I resign from the primary membership of the party,” said Panda at a Press meet here.
“The present PCC chief Niranjan Patnaik is surrounded by a coterie who are designing evil for the party’s loyal workers. There is no future for the party. Hence, I quit the party along with my supporters. My next course of action will be declared on Tuesday after I hold talk with my supporters,” Panda said, adding that the Congress is facing lack of coordination and backbiting and leg-pulling.
Panda was elected as an MLA from the Simulia constituency in Baleswar district on Congress ticket three times.
Along with Panda, another leader, Subhankar Mohapatra, and Panda’s son Nilamadhab Panda also declared their resignation from the party along with their supporters.