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Gomango rushes to Bhubaneswar

P Dev Kumar in New Delhi

Former Union minister of state for communications Giridhar Gomango, MP, flew to Bhubaneswar this evening after he was summoned by the observers sent by the All-India Congress Committee to help elect a new leader of the legislature party in Orissa in place of Janaki Ballab Patnaik.

Madhavrao Scindia and Pranab Mukherjee were to hold consultations with Congress legislators in Bhubaneswar this afternoon, but failed to do so. Instead, Gomango, who was unwell, was asked to take the earliest flight to the Orissa capital.

Observers in New Delhi say the election of the new leader may be postponed till tomorrow morning. But consultations may continue through the night.

The other contender for the post of chief minister is Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee president Hemananda Biswal, also a tribal.

While Gomango is from south Orissa, Biswal is from western Orissa.

If elected, Gomango will be the second tribal chief minister of Orissa.

UNI

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