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. 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. Routray, who holds the post of the party's Khurda district president, had said nobody could stop him from contesting elections.He had even questioned whether Niranjan's 'one man, one post' formula would hold for Niranjan himself during the distribution of tickets.Meanwhile, Das, who is chairman of the party's campaign committee, had pitched for equal opportunity for all Congress leaders, irrespective of the post they hold within the party, come election time."Current elected representatives should not hold a party post. This does not mean office bearers cannot contest elections. Of course, they are eligible for a party ticket, winnability is the only criteria," Niranjan tweeted.However, Niranjan did not comment on the fact that two of his party's MLAs - Chiranjib Biswal and Naba Kishore Dasare - are also holders of the key posts of Congress working presidents in the state.Niranjan (76) said potential candidates holding party posts will be given tickets. "I hold the post of president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee. Shall I not contest the 2019 election?" he asked.Last year, 78-year-old Congress MLA and leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra said he would not contest the next assembly election. "Any leader, after attaining 70, should not jump into the poll ring," Mishra had said.Niranjan said youth, women and new faces will be given preference during distribution of party tickets during the next elections. "Merit is the only yardstick for securing a Congress ticket. We will give priority to youth and women during distribution of tickets," said Niranjan, who had not contested elections in 2014.Niranjan said those who create disturbance in the party will be dealt with an iron hand. He was referring to the war of words between Koraput MLA Krishna Chandra Sagaria and Koraput district Congress president Meenakshi Bahinipati. Sagaria had, on Sunday, questioned Bahinipati's appointment as the party's Koraput district committee president.

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