Gamang to resign, new leader today

BHUBANESWAR, Dec 4 (UNI) — The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) will meet here tomorrow (Sunday) to elect a new leader, Mr Vayalar Ravi told newspersons. The AICC observer made this statement after Orissa Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang tonight announced his decision to resign putting at rest the five-day long crisis in the Orissa Congress over the leadership issue.

Mr Gamang had made the announcement in presence of AICC observers Mr Moti Lal Vohra, Mr Vayalar Ravi and Mr Ramesh Chennithala at the state guest house where hectic consultations were on for the past two days to elicit the views of the Congress MLAs over the change of leadership.

Mr Gamang said he would formally submit his resignation tomorrow to Governor M.M. Rajendran, who is now in Delhi. Sources said the Governor would arrive here tomorrow.

A visibly upset Mr Gumang said he was chosen by party President Sonia Gandhi to head the Congress in the state and on her advice he had taken over the Chief Ministership.

He said he had a discussion with her and decided to quit after talking to her. The CLP meeting would be head tomorrow to elect a new leader, he said.

Mr Gamang, who had been in parliamentary politics for nearly 28 years, was elected as the Leader of Congress Legislature Party on February 15 after Chief Minister J. B. Patnaik stepped down taking moral responsibility for attacks on the minority community in the state.

Mr Gamang was sworn in as Chief Minister of Orissa in February 17.

It was not yet clear as to who would succeed Mr Gamang and whether the AICC emissaries had been able to arrive at a consensus on the choice of a new CLP leader.

Asked if J.B. Patnaik was in the race, Ravi said "he is a loyal soldier of the party and not an aspirant for the Chief Minister’s post".

Party sources said during their series of discussions with state Congress leaders, the AICC emissaries had discussed several options including replacement of Mr Gamang by PCC president Hemananda Biswal.

The PCC president, who had all through maintained that there should not be any change in leadership of the CLP at the present juncture, had himself emerged as a front-runner for the top post in the changed scenario.

If Mr Biswal finally steps into Mr Gamang’s shoes, Patnaik might become the organisational chief, the sources said.

Mr Gamang had become Chief Minister on February 17 this year replacing J.B. Patnaik.

Earlier, senior leaders of the party signed a joint statement reposing their "full faith and confidence" in the leadership of Sonia Gandhi.

They also resolved to work unitedly for the success of the party in the ensuing assembly elections some three months away.