Chief Whip Post Divides Odisha Congress

BHUBANESWAR: They are out of power since last 16 years. But, the fight continues amongst themselves for their own personal reasons ignoring that it brings embarrassment to the party, and they lose the confidence of people.

After a brief lull, the Congress party leaders are back to infighting, where they are good at. Now, a section of legislators is crying for the change of guard in the post of party chief whip in the Assembly. On the other hand, Tara Prasad Bahinipati, who holds the post, accused the leaders of holding secret parleys to dethrone him.

“They are trying to replace me. But, the final decision will be taken by Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have full faith in the Congress leadership,” said Bahinipati.

As more leaders are joining in the chorus, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Prasad Harichandan has found it tough dealing with the perennial problem of infighting within the Odisha unit.

Three days back, Harichandan, Bahinipati and Nabakishor Das, who is credited to have engineered the game plan to replace Bahinipati, met Rahul Gandhi and discussed the issue.

The call for replacing Bahinipati from the chief whip post is a one-year-old issue. Possible replacement of Bahinipati has been doing the rounds when 12 out of 16 MLAs visited New Delhi to meet the central leadership on July 20 last year.

But, the matter was buried following porngate controversy in state Assembly. Now, the issue has gathered momentum after discussion with the central leadership of the party.

As Naba Das could not be the choice of the leadership for the post following the porngate controversy, party insiders said, Rahul Gandhi may play the tribal card to replace Bahinipati.

The party may zero in on Bhujabal Majhi or Prafulla Majhi for the post.

“The party leadership would take the final decision. I am ready to take any responsibility to be given by the party,” said Prafulla Majhi. Bhujabal Majhi also has the same opinion.