Bhubaneswar: Veteran Congress leader and Jatni MLA Suresh Routray, in his reaction to the show-cause notice issued to him by the party’s state head for his alleged anti-party comments, said that he doesn’t care if action is initiated against him.
Routray said, “Niranjan Patnaik, Jaydev Jena had also said the same thing on PCC chief. There’s no disciplinary panel for Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Santosh Saluja for demanding the resignation of party leaders. I have been in politics for the last 50 years, why so much drama over a slip of tongue,” said Routray.
However, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik denied the allegations. He informed that the final decision over the issue will be taken by the disciplinary panel of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
Routray had recently said that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik takes the final call regarding the selection of OPCC president. In response to it, OPCC chief Patnaik issued a show-cause notice to the former.
“Such kind of statement is not expected from a senior party leader like you. You are requested to submit a satisfactory reply soon explaining under what circumstances you gave the statement,” said the OPCC chief in the letter.
“After getting reply from you, it would be sent to AICC for its perusal,” the letter further read.
