Prasad Harichandan quits as OPCC President after Bijepur Debacle

KalingaTV News Network

Bhubaneswar: Owning moral responsibility for the dismal performance of the Congress in Bijepur by-poll, Prasad Harichandan on Wednesday resigned from the post of President of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC).

Harichandan has sent his resignation letter to party high command Rahul Gandhi, informed AICC in-charge of Odisha B K Hariprasad.

The result of Bijepur by-poll was announced today, in which the Congress stayed at a distant third position. Party candidate Pranay Sahu got only 10,274 votes and lost his security deposit, while the winning candidate Rita Sahu of BJD secured a whopping 1, 02,871 votes and her nearest rival Ashok Panigrahi of BJP secured 60,938 votes.

Harichandan, who took over as OPCC President in December 2014, had been facing stiff opposition from several MLAs of the party for the last several months, particularly after a poor show by Congress in last Panchayat elections and his stand on Mahanadi river issue.