Bhubaneswar, Aug 13: Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Sarat Patnaik on Friday appointed PCC vice-president Suresh Kumar Mohapatra as interim president of the Cuttack City Congress Committee.

Mohapatra replaced Giribala Behera, said to be a close aide of Cuttack-Barabati MLA Mohammed Moquim.

Mohapatra, who was the president of the Cuttack City Congress Committee from 2000 to 2011, has returned to the post after over 10 years. Moquim had replaced him in 2011.

Behera alleged that the party was run by some dalals. I was removed undemocratically.

Similarly, the PCC has dissolved the women, youth and other leading committees under the Cuttack City Congress Committee.

Political observers of the state say that the PCC has taken the decision to sideline the Cuttack-Barabati MLA Moquim for voting Droupadi Murmu in the recently concluded presidential election going against the party decision.

Recently, senior Congress leader Ashok Samal, Nikunja Pasayat and Biswajit Das had quit the party, said to be good friends of Moquim.

Commenting on the replacement, Moquim said it’s the right of PCC to reconstitute committees. So I am not the concerned person to comment on it.

PCC president Sarat Patnaik that the change of leadership in the Cuttack City Congress Committee had nothing to do with clipping the wings of anybody. It was done for strengthening the party organization. There has been also revamping in Puri and Jharsuguda units, he said.

” I have a good personal relationship with Moquim. I have discussed with him everything as the Congress is a disciplined party, “, said the newly-appointed PCC chief.