Jharsuguda Congress President withdraws resignation after consultation with PCC President

Jharsuguda: In Jharsuguda, party politics is heating up as the bypoll draws closer. Ashok Mishra, the District Congress President, resigned from his post on Monday morning, citing dissatisfaction with the Congress’ election campaign strategy. However, in a press conference held later in the evening at a private hotel in Jharsuguda, Mishra announced that he had withdrawn his resignation letter after consulting with the PCC president.

The Congress has fielded Tarun Pandey as their candidate for the election to be held on May 10. The party’s senior leader, Pradeep Deta, emphasised the need to address the issues faced by local unemployed members, the poor law and order situation in the district, and the underperforming education and health systems during a press conference.

A 5-member team from the Pradesh Congress Committee visited Jharsuguda and prepared a list of six members for the party’s state committee to consider. However, the AICC put a moratorium on Tarun’s name, rumored to be an attempt by the Congress to win favour votes by giving him a ticket following the recent death of his father, three-time MLA Biren Pandey. Despite having no experience in contesting a general election, Tarun was fielded by the party for the by-election.