Bhubaneswar, July 30: The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has for the time being managed to contain the growing dissidence within the party that had come into open when 12 MLAs of the party visited Delhi on July 22 to air their grievances before the high command.

State Congress chief Prasad Harichandan sought to downplay the visit today following a meeting with these MLAs, who were called to the party headquarters here to sort out differences ahead of the ensuing session of the Assembly.

"All the talk about differences in the Congress is baseless. They went to Delhi as the party's headquarters is in New Delhi. They went to meet the high command. No one should raise questions about this," he said, adding that the MLAs during their visit invited AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi to Odisha.

Significantly, the group of 12 MLAs had gone to Delhi without taking Harichandan or leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra into confidence. These two senior leaders were reportedly unhappy at not having been consulted by the legislators about the Delhi trip.

Sources said today's meeting with the PCC chief took place according to the advice of the high command. Later, the group of legislators also met Mishra at his official residence. When the team of MLAs led by Chiranjeeb Biswal submitted a proposal to the high command to revamp the state unit, they were advised to meet Harichandan and discuss the issue with him.

"Today's meeting took place according to the advice of the high command. The rebel MLAs had no alternative but to agree for a truce at the moment," said an MLA.

The Congress leaders said the tussle within the party began when Biswal wanted a bigger say in the party affairs and emphasised on restructuring the party.

According to the strategy, the Biswal-led group wanted to replace Congress chief whip Tara Bahinipati with Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das. The issue turned controversial when Bahinipati went public saying an attempt was being made to weaken and destabilise the party.