Senior Congress leader and AICC Odisha in-charge Jagdish Tytler on Tuesday gave a strong signal to party workers that indiscipline in any manner will not be tolerated.
“Indiscipline will not be tolerated in the party at all. How big is the leader does not matter. Anybody indulging in acts of indiscipline will face action,” Tytler told mediapersons here. The new president of the Pradesh Congress Committee, Jaydev Jena, has been given a clear-cut mandate by the high command. Unity and collective efforts are needed to dislodge BJD Government in 2014 elections, he said.
“Jena has been given a blank sheet by the Congress high command to bring the party to power in the next election. No interference will be tolerated. He has been given full authority to stem indiscipline in the party,” Tytler said.
Responding to several queries on factionalism within the Pradesh Congress, Tytler said, “I am giving a strong signal to those people who are working in a disciplined manner.” “I will see that nobody is neglected in the party where elections are due next year,” he said, adding that indiscipline and factionalism within the party will be suicidal as unity and collective action is of utmost importance.
Asked if the Congress is playing caste card by appointing Dalit leader Jena as OPCC president before the next general election, Tytler said, “It is not correct. I don’t believe this.” It was the wisdom of the high command to do what is best in the present situation.
The Congress high command had consulted the State leaders before the change of leadership in the State. Besides, the people of the State and majority in the party wanted a change of leadership. Tytler said Jena had played a significant role in curbing indiscipline in Assam when he was AICC secretary in-charge of the north-eastern State. Recognising his work in Assam and Uttar Pradesh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had sent him a letter of appreciation.
Tytler flatly denied the allegations that Naveen Patnaik had a role in the change of leadership in the Pradesh Congress.
It was Jena who had made the allegation that Naveen played a role for his ouster as PCC chief before the 2009 general elections.
On the issue of Vedanta’s bauxite mine project in Niyamgiri hills in Kalahandi district, Tytler said everything should be done as per the Supreme Court directive.
