BHUBANESWAR: Ahead of Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s likely visit to Odisha later this month, the party’s state leadership faces a daunting task to handle infighting, stemming from senior leader Srikant Jena’s removal as chairman of the poll manifesto committee on Thursday. It was evident on Friday when Jena challenged the functioning of the party’s state leadership and pledged to reach out to the masses and seek people’s opinion to strengthen Congress in Odisha.“When I was made the chairman of the manifesto committee in April, I had proposed to bring social security and development for the people belonging to the backward communities, who constitute bulk of the population in Odisha. Why is the Congress silent on the issue and not accepting my proposal to select a chief minister and two deputy chief ministers from the backward communities if Congress is voted to power? I will reach out to the masses and ask them whether or not I was correct,” Jena told TOI.Jena also made a veiled attack on party’s state president Niranjan Patnaik and said the Congress was jittery over his manifesto proposal to confiscate the properties of mining mafias, if the party is voted to power. “I know the business interest of some of our party leaders. Was my proposal against the mining mafias wrong and anti-party in nature,” asked Jena.Reacting to Jena’s remark on mining mafias, Niranjan said: “I am not into mining business. I do not own any mines. I do not know why Jena is linking the mining scam to me.”Niranjan said he is examining the alleged anti-party activities of Jena and dissident leader Krishna Chandra Sagaria. Jena landed in trouble for having allegedly incited Sagaria to revolt against the party’s state leadership. Sagaria, who recently stepped down as an MLA, has been targetting Niranjan and leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra for their alleged apathy towards the backward communities in the state.“I will not tolerate any indiscipline in the party. If Jena and Sagaria are found guilty, they will face stern action. Since elections are nearing, we should all stay united and work together for success,” Niranjan said. Hemananda Biswal , chairperson of state Congress disciplinary committee and former chief minister, said Jena was dethroned from the post of chairman of manifesto committee for his alleged indiscipline. “If Jena does not refrain from fomenting trouble in the party, he may be suspended and dismissed from the party,” Biswal said.

Stay updated with all the Latest Bhubaneswar headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.