Sonia authorised to select Orissa CM

BHUBANESWAR, FEB 15: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Orissa today authorised All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia ...

BHUBANESWAR, FEB 15: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Orissa today authorised All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi to nominate its leader to succeed the outgoing Chief Minister J B Patnaik.

The meeting of the CLP, held three-and-half hours behind schedule, lasted hardly ten minutes and was adjourned after adopting an one-line resolution to this effect moved by the chief minister and seconded by Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Hemananda Biswal.

Emerging from the meeting, AICC observers Pranab Mukherjee and Madhavrao Scindia told newsmen that the CLP would meet again at 9.30 pm.

Story continues below this ad

Mukherjee and Scindia, accompanied by the chief minister, immediately left for the state guest house to contact the AICC chief over telephone and ascertain her choice about the leader.

Biswal said the name of the new leader was expected to be announced tonight after the central leaders apprised the party president about the views of the CLP.

Earlier, Mukherjee and Scindia, who arrived here in the morning held confabulations with party MLAs and MPs and also some former MPs for about seven hours to ascertain their views individually about the choice of the new CLP leader.

Before the MLAs and MPs were called in, the observers had discussions with the chief minister and PCC president.

Story continues below this ad

Party sources said the two AICC emissaries had not suggested any name but inquired from the legislators about their preference and the reason behind it.

The names of at least four leaders, both from within the CLP and outside, were mentioned by the legislators, the sources said.

Meanwhile, former communications minister and nine-time member of Parliament Giridhari Gomango has airdashed to Bhubaneswar this evening summoned by the AICC observers.

The other contender for the post of chief minister is PCC president Hemanand Biswal, also a tribal. While Gomango is from south Orissa, Biswal is from western part of the state. If elected, Gomango will be the second tribal chief minister.