No cover-up attempts, project party as woman-friendly, instructs Sonia

Soon after the alleged gang rape, Sonia began monitoring events related to the issue and practically put Patnaik on notice. Her fresh orders to Patnaik are seen as an extension of her unhappiness with the Orissa CM and are basically a kind of a lesson in morals and ethics. She is understood to have told the Orissa CM to be "nice, gentle and sensitive" to Anjana Mishra.

She has also asked Patnaik not to do anything to "hurt" Anjana as she is the victim of a traumatic attack. The other instructions include immediate action against the culprits involved in the attack, giving extensive help to Anjana, taking steps to show that Patnaik, and the Congress, are seen as "woman-friendly" and avoiding statements doubting Anjana’s version until the judicial probe into the incident is completed.

One other important missive to Patnaik asks him not to attempt any "cover-up" of the alleged gang rape or related issues. This is an indirect reference to the past when Patnaik took the side of former state Advocate General Indrajit Ray, who was accused of sexual assault by Anjana.

In essence, Sonia’s dealings with Patnaik over the last few days indicate a near-total loss of trust from the High Command’s side and puts the Orissa CM in a precarious position. Patnaik has been asked to "explain" his side of the story on December 16 in what is likely to be a tough day for him. Congress sources said Sonia is in an angry mood and Patnaik could face a barrage of questions amounting to a virtual cross examination. The outcome could decide his immediate political fate in the wake of serious attempts to oust him from the CM’s post by leaders opposed to him in the State. Important dissident leaders have been meeting top Congress leaders over the last two days here and had a 30-minute meeting with Sonia late last night at 10, Janpath.

Deputy Chief Minister Basant Kumar Biswal led a delegation of around 10 people including ministers and the State Deputy Speaker. The dissidents are understood to have told Sonia that the party would be "badly affected" by the Anjana rape case and Patnaik has given the impression of a government in drift.

A change in leadership was mandatory to send the "right signals" in Orissa and start on a "positive note" for the elections due next year, they told Sonia. The Congress president apparently said nothing except that she had "taken note" of the dissidents’ views. One factor in favour of Patnaik is that the Congress has no other leader of his stature in Orissa and with the local polls due next year, Sonia might have to do some careful thinking in this aspect.

After meeting Sonia, the dissidents held another meeting in the residence of Lok Sabha MP Ranjib Biswal, son of Basant Kumar Biswal. In the meeting it was felt that efforts to topple Patnaik must "continue". The Deputy Chief Minister later said they had "done their job" and it was up to Sonia to take a decision now.

Among those who called on Sonia were K C Lenka, Bhagabat Prasad Mohanty, Amar Pradhan, Jaidev Jena, Gadadhar Majhi, Bibhuti Bhushan Mardaraj and Santosh Kumar Saluja. PCC Hemananda Biswal and some others are also expected to arrive in Delhi for the anti-Patnaik campaign.

The CWC is slated to meet on December 16 and the Orissa crisis is likely to figure in it. The CWC is also slated to discuss the attacks on minorities, especially in Gujarat, and further revamping of the Congress organisation. The new Congress constitution, amendments to which were cleared by a special AICC session last month, is now ready for printing.