Moquim Out, Congress’ surgery or arbitrariness?
The internal turmoil in the party has now taken an explosive turn after the expulsion of former Congress MLA and senior leader Mohammed Moquim for anti-party activities. With the direct support of the AICC, PCC President Bhakta charan Das has been able to expel Mohammed Moquim from the party by showing his support. But the way senior party leaders Niranjan Patnaik, Narasingh Mishra and Sarata Kumar Rout have come forward and have disapproved of Bhakta’s approach has raised a big question mark over the future of the Congress in the state. After senior party leaders opened their mouths about action against Mohammed Moquim, internal politics in the Congress has been in full swing from Bhubaneswar to Delhi.
Time will tell whether Mohammed Moquim’s expulsion will bring reforms to the state Congress or will lead the party to complete ruin. But the party is now divided between Bhakta’s tough approach and the discontent of senior leaders. If Bhakta continues to carry out such organizational ‘surgery’ to show his leadership, ignoring the views of senior leaders like Niranjan Patnaik, Narasinha Mishra and Sarata Rout, it has created fears in the party circles that instead of reforming the party, it will raise questions about its existence. There is talk in the political circles that party candidates who were likely to win the Nuapada by-elections were defeated due to Bhakta’s weak strategy. There is general talk that the way Bhakta, who failed in his Lok Sabha constituency, is now sending away capable party leaders in the name of ‘discipline’ will lead the Congress to ruin.
On the other hand, the party’s media cell president Arvind Das held a press conference today and supported the AICC’s action and directly targeted Mohammed Moquim on a personal level. Arvind, who has not completed a year in the party or politics, said that Mohammed Moquim has become a BJP player to protect his business interests and escape the OHDC loan fraud case. He asked how a leader who could not organize the party in his own district Cuttack can aspire to become the leader of the entire state. It is not possible for a leader who mocks Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to remain in the party. Mohammed Moquim himself wanted to be expelled, said Arvind.
