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Revolt in Orissa PCC against J B Patnaik

Simmering differences within the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee boiled over today with its vice-president and two secretaries openly raising a banner of revolt against PCC chief J B Patnaik.

Four groups of Congress leaders from the state met All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi demanding a change of leadership.

Former chief minister Hemanand Biswal and former member of Parliament from western Orissa, Sriballav Panigrahi met Sonia separately and are understood to have impressed upon her the urgent need to effect a change in the PCC leadership.

A 15-member delegation of the PCC also arrived here today. Six of them, including vice-president Suryabhanu Misra, and secretaries P K Mahananda and Utkal Kesari Parida met Sonia.

Misra later told newsmen that they demanded Patnaik's removal.

Asked what was Sonia response, they said she gave them a patient hearing and an assurance to look into their grievances.

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