Odisha: Will not contest 2024 assembly poll, says Prasad Harichandan

BHUBANESWAR: In what may lead to fresh infighting within the Odisha unit of Congress ahead of the panchayat election, its former state president, Prasad Harichandan, said a group of leaders within the party have launched a smear campaign against him. As a mark of protest, Prasad on Thursday said he would not contest the 2024 assembly election.
Harichandan has been facing criticism for his alleged role in the non-distribution of party tickets among aspirants in the six zilla parishad (ZP) zones of Satyabadi assembly constituency.Congress has failed to field any candidate from there this time. Washing his hands of the controversy, Harichandan passed the buck to the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president, Niranjan Patnaik.
“I am not handling the ticket distribution for panchayat election. Tickets are always cleared and distributed by the OPCC chief. But some people in our party blamed me and spread lies about me, as far as the Satyabadi ZP zones are concerned,” Harichandan, a three-time former Satyabadi MLA, told media persons with tears in his eyes here on Thursday.
Perceived as a detractor of Niranjan, Harichandan did not name anyone from the party for levelling such allegations against him. “The BJD and BJP are the political rivals of Congress. Unfortunately, we are busy fighting among ourselves at a time when we should fight the panchayat election by staying united,” Harichandan said.
He added that misinformation was being spread about him for his alleged secret deals with the BJD. “I dare those to come out with evidence. If the allegations against me are proved, I will stay away from politics,” Harichandan said.
The senior Congress leader and former minister further said he is not a trader, who can broker deals. “I know some leaders in our party who are known for brokering deals. I will expose them with proof,” Harichandan said. He added that he was hurt by the false campaign against him. “I will not contest the 2024 general election. I will remain in the Congress and work for the party,” he said. Niranjan was unavailable for his comments on the matter.