Odisha elections: State Mahila Congress president resigns

BHUBANESWAR: Two days before the April 11 first phase poll, Congress suffered a setback as its women's wing state president

Sumitra Jena

resigned from the party on Tuesday. She had been revolting against Odisha Pradesh Congress president

Niranjan Patnaik

over alleged irregularities in ticket distribution for past few days.


Sumitra, who was an aspirant from Bhadrak assembly seat, said she sent her resignation to party president Rahul Gandhi. "Niranjan babu is playing role of Shakuni in the Congress. The party was on the path of revival after the victory in

Chhattisgarh

, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Niranjan babu and his son Navjyoti (candidate from

Balasore

Lok Sabha seat) offered tickets to wealthy persons. I doubt if Congress can win even five assembly seats out of 147,” Sumitra said.

"I had suggested names of 52 aspiring women candidates for assembly and 7 candidates for Lok Sabha seats. But representation of women candidates in Congress is abysmally poor," Sumitra said. Niranjan said Sumitra was upset after being denied ticket.