Tirupati to contest independently: Snubbed by Cong

Parlakhemundi: Sunday, Hi-Tech Medical Group chief, Tirupati Panigrahi, who had recently joined the Congress, has decided to contest as an Independent candidate from the Paralakhemundi Assembly segment in Gajapati district after the party denied him ticket.Panigrahi said this at a press meet here.

A peeved Panigrahi decided to contest as an Independent candidate after being denied Congress ticket.He along with his supporters filed nomination at the sub-collector’s office here.“After joining the Congress, I have given all my efforts and energy for the party. However, at the last minute, they have denied me ticket. So, I have decided to contest as an Independent,” Panigrahi said.“More than 40 Congress leaders are on my side.

So, I have a feeling that I will surely win the election this time,” he added.“I won’t blame anyone for the turn of events. Some vested interests are trying to cause damage to the party. I have full faith in the AICC and OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik. As many as 125 office bearers have resigned en masse after I was denied ticket,” the Hi-Tech Group chairman said.The Congress has fielded sitting MLA K Surya Rao from Paralakhemundi Assembly seat.Along with Panigrahi at the press meet were district unit Congress president G Tirupati Rao, former president S Gajapati Rao, A Jaymohan Rao and others.Discontentment over ticket distribution has hit all the major political parties in the state. Several protests have been seen across the state which has become a major cause of concern for the political leadership.