Bhubaneswar, April 28: A complete disarray has erupted in the Opposition Congress even before the result for the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls are declared.

A section of the party has openly expressed its displeasure on the issue of management of elections and distribution of party tickets. It has started demanding ouster of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Jaydev Jena.

Senior Congress leader Sitakanta Mohapatra, the three-time MLA from Barachana, today alleged that the PCC president had openly sold the party tickets. “The party had given him full authority to take decision on 25 Assembly constituencies. However, he sold and auctioned these tickets. Even one of the Congress members from Khallikote had openly alleged that he had been denied a party ticket as he failed to pay Rs 5 lakh.”

Mohapatra, whose son had been denied a party ticket, was upset with the state Congress leadership. He contested the election as an Independent.

Lambasting the PCC president, Mohapatra accused Jena of breaching of party discipline by issuing unwarranted threats against leaders without naming them. “I am preparing a report on him and will let the high command know how he is trying to destabilise the party to settle petty personal scores with some leaders, who he considers to be big threat to his position in the party.”

The dissension in the party gained momentum after it had failed to adopt a fair approach on the distribution of party tickets. Senior leader from south Odisha Chandra Sekhar Sahu had also complained about poll mismanagement. Sahu, the Congress nominee for the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat, said he had not received any fund from the party and not even a banner carrying the pictures of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

Reacting on this issue, the PCC president said: “I don’t want to create any controversy. Sitakant babu was upset as his son was denied a ticket. On the issue of funding, the members are free to raise the issue before the All India Congress Committee.”

Jena also warned that he would continue to take a tough stand on the issue of discipline. “We are seeking a report on who the leaders are and who had played a decisive role against the party’s candidates.” Earlier, another senior leader, Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, had said Jena should refrain from issuing threat to the senior leaders on the ground of discipline.

Sarat Rout, a member of the party’s disciplinary committee, said: “Mohapatra has acted against the party by going for a campaign for his son against the party candidate.”

Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik said: “We are hearing a lot of allegations. Jaydev Jena being the PCC president is the right person to answer all the queries.”

However, there was a piece of suggestion from senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra.” Party matters should not be discussed publicly. It should be resolved at the party forum,” he said.