The Odisha Congress is grappling with internal conflict as divisions within the party come to the fore. Veteran leader Mohammed Moquim has written a scathing letter to party president Sonia Gandhi, highlighting a leadership crisis and staff shortages in the youth wing. The letter has thrust the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) into controversy, while PCC chief Bhaktcharan Das has remained tight-lipped.

Moquim Highlights Youth Wing Exodus and Grassroots Concerns

In his letter, Moquim criticized youth leaders who, after receiving party training, have left the Congress, calling the situation a threat to the party’s grassroots base. He urged Sonia Gandhi’s intervention, stating:

“I look for the hand of Sonia Gandhi in this. I hoped that she would come.”

He emphasized that the letter reflected the views of rank-and-file workers, not the party leadership, and cited his daughter’s MLA victory as proof of his loyalty to the Congress.

Strong Reactions from Senior Leaders

The letter drew immediate backlash:

• Jayadev Jena, former PCC president, defended national leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, calling accusations of neglect unacceptable. He praised Kharge as a leader defending democracy and Rahul as one who supports the poor.

• Anant Sethi criticized Moquim for airing internal matters publicly, calling it “a display of dirty laundry”.

• Suresh Routray urged calm, advising against using internal disputes to celebrate a political comeback prematurely. He questioned why Moquim would risk his daughter’s political career through such public criticism.

Odisha Congress on the Brink Ahead of Elections

The public fallout has sparked talk of a “party purge” in Bhubaneswar and left the Odisha Congress in disarray, especially with Chaitanya’s absence during crucial electoral preparations.

With the high command remaining silent, questions loom: Will Sonia Gandhi’s intervention help extinguish the internal fire, or has the party sown the seeds of its own fragmentation ahead of the elections?

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