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Biswal's supporters want Patnaik out

Bibhuti Mishra in Bhubaneshwar

Fourteen legislators, under the leadership of former chief minister Hemananda Biswal, will leave for Delhi today to exert pressure on the Congress high command, to change the Congress Legislative Party leader and drop J B Patnaik as Pradesh Congress Committee president.

The legislators met at the residence of a dissident leader yesterday evening, to chalk out a strategy to dislodge Patnaik and CLP leader Ramakanta Mishra.

Although they have met party president Sonia Gandhi earlier, this meeting may be more fruitful as their numbers have swelled from 10 to 14, almost half the number of Congress legislators in the state.

"The Congress cannot make strides in Orissa as long as Patnaik is PCC chief. This will be told to the high command," a dissident said

A running battle between the Biswal and Patnaik factions has been on since Mishra was elected CLP leader a few months back. The Biswal faction has been boycotting Congress functions ever since.

Biswal was also asked to explain his conduct and though he has given an explanation to the high command, action is yet to be taken.

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