Phulbani: The Kandhamal District Congress Committee, under the chairmanship of District President Chandra Sekhar Parida, organized a press conference at the local Congress office to brief the media about the ongoing signature campaign against the alleged vote rigging by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The campaign is being conducted as per the directives of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and under the supervision of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das.
During the press meet, OPCC observers Hussain Khan and Sanjay Mandal informed that nearly 20,000 signatures have already been collected from across the district, and efforts are underway to collect another 30,000, aiming for a total of 50,000 signatures in protest against the alleged electoral malpractice.
The meeting was attended by G. Udayagiri MLA Prafulla Chandra Pradhan, former MP Radhakanta Digal, senior Congress leaders Bijay Kumar Mohanty, Hemant Kar, advocate Rajat Kumar Mohanty, Sansar Bhoi, Basanta Padhi, and several other party workers.
Following the press meet, a joining ceremony was held at the Congress office, during which more than 30 BJD workers from various blocks of the district joined the Congress party. The new members were welcomed with party scarves and flags.