Sucharita Mohanty, Congress Candidate for Puri Lok Sabha Election, Returns Ticket After Being 'Denied' Party Funding; Says Can't Fight Poll Without Funds Amid 'Vulgar Display of Wealth' by Ruling Party

The Congress in Odisha suffered a major setback on Monday, May 4, as party nominee Sucharita Mohanty decided to withdraw from contesting the Puri seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The Congress candidate cited lack of funding from the cash-strapped party as the reason for her decision. She returned her ticket, stating, "Can't fight the polls without funds amid the vulgar display of wealth by the ruling party". Accusing Congress Party for deliberately fielding weak candidates under her Parliamentary constituency, she said, "I even urged the party to change four Assembly candidates. The party told me to fight the election on my own... At a time when the ruling government's vulgar display of wealth is prevailing at all places, I can't fight the election without funds". Voting for the Puri Lok Sabha seat and its seven assembly segments is scheduled for May 25, with the nomination deadline set for May 6. Both BJD's Arup Patnaik and BJP's Sambit Patra have already filed their nominations for the upcoming election. Odisha: BJD Declares Fresh List of Candidates for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 and Assembly Polls (Watch Video).

Sucharita Mohanty Withdraws From Contesting Puri LS Seat:

In a setback for the Congress, its #Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sucharita Mohanty has declined to contest, citing zero funding from the cash-strapped party. @timesofindia @TOIBhubaneswar pic.twitter.com/55FEGhXTpZ

— Debabrata (@DebabrataTOI) May 4, 2024

Sucharita Mohanty Cites Lack of Funds:

'Can't fight the election without funds amid the vulgar display of wealth by the ruling party' - Congress' #Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sucharita Mohanty returns ticket

"The party is unable to fund me. Besides, weak candidates have been deliberately fielded in the seven Assembly… pic.twitter.com/VupKfVgsMe

— OTV (@otvnews) May 4, 2024

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 04, 2024 10:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).