The fissures and rampant factionalism in the State Congress again came to the fore during the observation of the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on Tuesday.
While one camp led by Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan observed the anniversary in the State capital by organising road shows and a motorbike rally, in which many senior leaders were present, the absence of former PCC president Niranjan Patnaik and leader of Opposition Narsingha Mishra raised many eyebrows.
Patnaik and Mishra attended a function organised at Borigumma in Koraput district along with party chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinpati. When asked by reporters Patnaik said, “Indira Gandhiji’s anniversary is being observed at several places across the country. Should everyone attend it at one placeIJ lOP Mishra also replied in the similar vein.
Notably, during the Padyatra held by the party in Koraput district in which the PCC president had led, Bahinpati had not attended.
However, Prasad’s father-in-law and senior leader Suresh Routray did not mince words while lashing out at Patnaik, Mishra and Bahinpati. Routray said, Who is bothered.