Bhubaneswar, June 6: The leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) will be elected on June 11 on the eve of the budget session of the Assembly.

The Congress, being the largest Opposition in the Assembly, its CLP leader will get the recognition as the leader of Opposition.

In the 147-member House, the party has 16 members.

According to the norms, a party needs a minimum of one-tenth of the Assembly’s strength to gain the status as the principal Opposition party.

The leader of Opposition enjoys the rank of a cabinet minister.

“The election will be held at the meeting of the newly elected MLAs in the presence of All India Congress Committee leader Ajay Maken, who will be attending as the observer,” said Pradesh Congress Committee president Jaydev Jena.

Jena said all the 16 party MLAs had been asked to remain present at the meeting.

Party sources said senior leader and former law minister Narasingha Mishra was likely to lead the party in the Assembly. A majority of party MLAs were in favour of Mishra occupying the coveted post.