Congress Candidate in Puri Withdraws Due to Lack of Funding
Sucharita Mohanty, the Congress candidate for the Puri Lok Sabha constituency, has withdrawn her nomination citing a lack of funding from the party. In a letter to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (organization) K C Venugopal, Mohanty stated that her campaign has been severely hampered by the party's denial of financial support.
Mohanty, the daughter of former Congress MP Brajamohan Mohanty, claimed that AICC Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar had explicitly instructed her to finance her own campaign. Despite her efforts to raise funds through a public donation drive and minimize campaign expenses, she was unable to secure sufficient resources.
Having exhausted all options, Mohanty reached out to senior party leaders, including the central leadership, for financial assistance. However, her requests were met with no response. Consequently, she felt compelled to withdraw her candidacy, stating that without party funding, an effective campaign in Puri was impossible.
Despite her withdrawal, Mohanty affirmed her unwavering loyalty to the Congress party and its leader, Rahul Gandhi. She will continue to serve as a dedicated party worker.
Mohanty's withdrawal leaves the Puri Lok Sabha seat contested between BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra and BJD candidate Arup Patnaik, a former Mumbai Police Commissioner.