Bhubaneswar, Jan 18: Bouncers had to be deployed at Congress Bhawan in Odisha capital on Friday for smooth conduct of a high level meeting chaired by state in-charge Jitendra Singh.

Singh along with veteran Congress leader Digvijay Singh attended a high level review meeting inside the Congress Bhawan was swarming with a group of well-built youth.

While central leader Jitendra Singh, Digvijay Singh and senior leaders of the state including Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik were discussing ways to revive the grand old party, dissidents were staging protest outside.

Former convenor of Student Congress Itish Pradhan along with his supporters sat on a protest in front of the Congress Bhawan.

Pradhan alleged that goons were engaged to prevent him and his supporters from meeting the Odisha in-charge to know as to why he was suspended from the party.

My suspension from the party was a conspiracy as I had exposed the ill intention of the senior leaders and told the truth, said Pradhan.  

Meanwhile, another group of dissidents demanded ouster of OPCC president raising slogan in support of Cuttack City MLA Mohhammad Moquim as replacement.