The situation surrounding Sucharita Mohanty's decision not to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Odisha's Puri constituency on a Congress ticket has sparked discussions about the party's funding mechanisms and candidate selection process. Mohanty's assertion that she faced financial constraints in running her campaign has raised questions about the level of support provided by the Congress party to its candidates. She claimed that AICC Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar instructed her to finance her campaign independently, which she found challenging given her background as a former journalist transitioning into politics.
However, senior Congress leader KC Venugopal dismissed Mohanty's allegations, stating that the party's decision to replace her with another candidate for the Puri Lok Sabha seat was not influenced by her funding concerns. He emphasized that the party had independently chosen to nominate a different candidate. Similarly, Ajoy Kumar refuted Mohanty's claims, asserting that funds are typically allocated to candidates who actively engage in campaigning and demonstrate a serious commitment to their electoral efforts.
Despite the challenges she faced, Mohanty reiterated her loyalty to the Congress party and expressed her admiration for Rahul Gandhi. She highlighted the difficulties she encountered in securing adequate financial support for her campaign, particularly in comparison to her opponents from other political parties who reportedly had access to more substantial resources. Ultimately, the Congress party's decision to replace Mohanty as the candidate for the Puri Lok Sabha seat underscores broader questions about funding transparency and candidate selection within the party.
