In a recent turn of events, former Indian hockey captain Prabodh Tirkey has publicly addressed his decision to step down from the Congress party. Tirkey, who had been ousted as a candidate, conveyed his sense of betrayal by the party for rescinding his candidacy without providing justification.
During an interview with PTI, Tirkey disclosed his feelings of betrayal by the Congress leadership and articulated that the party’s action came as a stunning blow to him and his supporters. “It was an affront to me as the party withdrew my candidacy without divulging the rationale behind it,” Tirkey asserted. He also conveyed that despite making efforts to reach out to prominent party leaders, including state Congress president Sarat Pattnayak, he was unsuccessful in establishing contact with them.
After joining the Congress in September last year, Tirkey made the decision to resign from the party following his replacement by Debendra Bhitaria in the Talsara assembly seat in the Sundergarh district. “I feel let down by the Congress leadership. They have breached my trust,” Tirkey expressed disillusionment with the turn of events and indicated that he would contemplate his next course of action after consulting his followers.
When questioned about the possibility of aligning with other political parties such as the BJD or BJP, Tirkey disclosed that all major parties had already announced their candidates, leaving him with the sole option of running as an Independent candidate. He clarified that he had not made a decision in this regard and would carefully deliberate on his next move.
In light of these developments, state Congress leaders were unavailable for comment on the issue.
The circumstances surrounding Prabodh Tirkey’s withdrawal from the Congress have raised inquiries about the internal dynamics of the political landscape and the potential impact on the upcoming elections.
As the situation unfolds, it will be intriguing to observe the unfolding of Tirkey’s next steps and the potential ramifications of his decision on the political landscape in the region.
In conclusion, Tirkey’s candid testimony sheds light on the intricacies within the Congress party and underscores the need for transparency and open communication in political decision-making processes.