Bhubaneswar: Veteran Congress Stalwart Chiranjib Biswal, who was recently suspended from Congress, today made it clear that he will fight the 2024 Assembly elections.
Speaking to media persons for the first time after suspension, Shri Biswal said, “I will definitely fight the 2024 polls. I may fight as independent candidate or from any other political party.” However, he did not disclose whether he will join any other party.
Without naming anybody, Shri Biswal very strongly criticised the Odisha Congress leadership, especially the State President Sarat Pattanayak for his suspension.
Stating that he is a disciplined member of the Congress, the ex-MLA said he felt hurt due to the suspension. “If the Congress leadership thinks that they can achieve na ru nabe (nine to 90) in the next Assembly election with my suspension, I welcome them,” he said.
“I have suggested for early declaration of candidates, at least one year ago, so that they can get time to give for the election. I have worked to strengthen the Congress party and the media are the witness to it. If congress people are not ready to tolerate the golden era of JB Patnaik and Basant Kumar Biswal, then what message will we give to the voters to attract our side,” he said.
If the Congress leadership is thinking that for my seminar, the vote share of Congress reduced to around 4,000 votes in Jharsuguda by-poll, then why did the vote percentage of the party come down in Dhamnagar and Padampur by-polls and who is responsible for it? he asked.
Congress had got around 16% votes in 2019. After that five by-polls were held and the party candidate got only 3 to 4 percent of votes except Tirtol by-poll in which the party’s vote share increased from 16% to 18%, Shri Biswal pointed out.
“In 2022, urban by-polls were held and in the coastal area, Congress won only in Jagatsinghpur municipality. If speaking the truth is a crime, then I have committed the crime,” the former MLA said.
“If we will work for personal gain holding positions, then the Congress party will never grow. I have suggested to induct new youth faces in the party and strengthen the party at grassroots level and reach out to the people with the developmental works undertaken during JB Patnaik and Basant Biswal time,” he said slamming the state leadership.
Shri Biswal said the thousands of Congress workers and supporters will decide whether his suspension will have any impact on the party or not.
“Despite strong waves in favour of the BJD, I won the Assembly elections in 2004 and 2014. Those who are making a conspiracy against me, have not won a single election in the past 25 years. Though they have fought elections, never won a single one. Even they lost deposits in the election,” he said, pointing towards Sarat Pattanayak.
“In the constituencies and districts, where the Congress has a strong base, conspiracy is being made to divide the party in those districts. Do we need to unite the Congress family or work to divide it?” he further asked.
He also questioned under whose direction the party is taking such decisions. Shri Biswal urged all Congress workers and activists to unite to fight against the conspiracy and save the party.