Bhubaneswar: More than a month after the expulsion of former MLA and Congress leader Mohammed Moquim from the party, 41 supporters resigned from the Congress on Saturday.Leaders close to Moquim said the move was a calculated one as the time for resigning was chosen to show strength. Moquim recently said he was planning to float a new party. Although Congress claimed the resignation was anticipated and it will not impact the party at all, senior leaders and their supporters quitting brought fresh turmoil and disorder to the party. Those who quit the party included the former secretary of PCC, spokespersons, block chairmen, and several youth and student leaders.Earlier in the day, those who resigned vented their anger against the functioning of the party and alleged that the decision to expel was arbitrary. Despite repeated attempts, Moquim was not available for comment. Congress senior functionaries also declined to comment on the development.Moquim’s expulsion followed a letter he sent to AICC, in which he alleged that, as an MLA, he was unable to meet Rahul Gandhi for almost 3 years. He said this was not his personal grievance, but a wider emotional disconnect felt by workers across India.
