New Year greeting hoardings featuring expelled Odisha Congress leader Mohammed Moquim and Barabati MLA Sofia Firdous have stirred political discussions after appearing at several locations across Cuttack on Wednesday.
The hoardings, which carry New Year wishes, prominently display photographs of both leaders but do not feature the Congress party symbol, prompting speculation in political circles.
Joint Appearance Raises Eyebrows
While seasonal greeting hoardings are common, the joint display of Moquim, expelled from Congress for alleged anti-party activities, and his daughter Sofia Firdous, a sitting Congress MLA, has drawn attention due to the current political context.
Observers noted that the absence of the Congress logo and the inclusion of Moquim’s image alongside an active party MLA was unusual and has raised questions about the hoardings’ purpose.
Sponsorship and Intentions Remain Unclear
It is unclear whether the hoardings were installed by Moquim’s supporters or well-wishers of Sofia Firdous. Adding to the uncertainty, the hoardings do not mention any sponsoring individual, organisation, or political party.
Commenting on the speculation, Mohammed Moquim stated:
“I am not currently associated with any political party. I learned about the hoardings through media reports. Some well-wishers may have put up these banners showing Sofia and me as a father-daughter duo. Only those who installed them can explain the intention behind it.”
He added that he had seen other hoardings where Sofia Firdous’ photograph appears with her party logo and senior leaders, indicating these may be independent gestures rather than official political messaging.
