Summary:
BHUBANESWAR: Faced with the criticism of party leaders, Congress state president Niranjan Patnaik on Tuesday softened his stand on not allowing party post holders to contest elections, and said such leaders could indeed contest elections. He was referring to the war of words between Koraput MLA Krishna Chandra Sagaria and Koraput district Congress president Meenakshi Bahinipati. This does not mean office bearers cannot contest elections. "Current elected representatives should not hold a party post. Niranjan had earlier spoken of a 'one man, one post' policy, according to which Congress office-bearers might not be given tickets to contest the 2019 general elections.Several leaders - chief among them Suresh Kumar Routray and Bhakta Charan Das - questioned his decision..