Cong rebels want Gamang to go

BHUBANESWAR, OCT 10: Stung by the worst-ever show in the State, about 40 Congress legislators, including four ministers, held a secret pa...

BHUBANESWAR, OCT 10: Stung by the worst-ever show in the State, about 40 Congress legislators, including four ministers, held a secret parley on Friday to press for removal of Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang and PCC president Hemananda Biswal.

The Congress rebels, who reportedly met at the residence of former minister Kishore Patel, resolved to apprise party president Sonia Gandhi of the fact that it would be difficult for the party to win the coming Assembly elections under the leadership of Gamang and Biswal.

The meeting, believed to have been attended by heads of the party8217;s frontal organisations in the State, resolved to send their resignations to Sonia in protest against the poor leadership of Gamang and Biswal. The chiefs of the four frontal organisations include State Youth Congress president Lalatendu Vidyadhar Mahapatra, Mahila Congress president Umarani Patra, State wing Seva Dal chairman Arya Prasad Gyanendra and Chhatra Congress president Debasis Patnaik. Sources said the four decided not toattend office.

The Council of Ministers is reportedly meeting here on October 14 to take stock of the political situation in the state.

Sources said a signature campaign has already been launched by the rebels for the removal of the Chief Minister and the PCC chief.

The Congress camp witnessed hectic activity since the morning. Water Resources minister Basant Kumar Biswal, Rural Development minister Kanhu Charan Lenka and Works Minister Bhupinder Singh met the chief minister separately in his residence to discuss the post-poll scenario.

Meanwhile, Biswal owned moral responsibility for the party8217;s poor show at the hustings and offered to quit his post. The Chief Minister and the PCC chief are expected to meet Sonia. Biswal is likely to resign.

INSIGHT:

Minister offers to quit

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Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj KC Lenka on Saturday offered to resign from the Council of Ministers following his defeat in the Lok Sabha election. In a letter to All Indian CongressCommittee president Sonia Gandhi, he said he should be allowed to resign from the Giridhar Gamang Government, owning moral responsibility for the defeat of the party in the state.

8212; EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE