Bhubaneswar, July 16: Congress MLAs today reiterated their demand for a change in state leadership at a meeting with the party's central observer Siddharth Patel, currently here to monitor tomorrow's presidential elections.
At a closed-door meeting, the MLAs, led by their legislature party leader Narasingh Mishra, are said to have given a detailed account of the "sorry state of affairs" in the party and raked up their demand for immediate change of guard in the state.
Patel has promised to convey their sentiments to the party leadership, sources said.
Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Prasad Harichandan, who is at loggerheads with the MLAs, was conspicuous by his absence at the meeting. The tussle between the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) and the PCC leadership is said to be the reason behind the UPA presidential nominee Meira Kumar cancelling her visit to the state.
Asked about the absence of Harichandan, Mishra said: "All those who were invited have attended the meeting."
The most vocal legislator, Tara Prasad Bahinipati, also party's chief whip, said: "We have apprised the leadership of the need for a change of leadership. We have intimated that the former president of the Pradesh Congress Committee, Niranjan Patnaik, is the best candidate to head the PCC at this moment."
Several MLAs, including Prafulla Majhi and Jogesh Singh, supported Bahinipati in their demand for Patnaik being given the party's reins.
The MLAs are now openly talking about Patnaik as reports have surfaced in a section of media that former Union minister Bhakta Charan Das from the KBK region is ahead in the race for the party's top slot in the state. Das is said to be enjoying tactical support of the Harichandan faction of the party.
"If this happens (Das becoming the PCC chief), the Congress will be totally finished. If the leadership wants to revive the party, Niranjan should be appointed as the head of the PCC," said MLA Jogesh Singh.
Harichandan's close associate Sarat Rout said: "Both Niranjan Patnaik and Bhakta Charan Das are capable of leading the party. The leadership will take the final call."
After the meeting, Mishra, said: "All the 16 MLAs, barring one who is ill, will vote tomorrow."
While the Congress expected cross voting from BJD, both the BJP and BJD are confident of keeping their flocks together. Bahinipati said: "Serious infighting within the BJD will lead to cross voting."
BJD chief whip Amar Satpathy dismissed the claims and said that the party was solidly behind Ramnath Kovind.