The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) is meeting here on Monday to elect a new leader in the wake of J B Patnaik's resignation from the post of Chief Minister. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretaries Pranab Mukherjee and Madhav Rao Scindia are scheduled to reach here on Monday morning to act as observers in the election.

Successive dinner party meetings of the loyalist legislators and ministers at Niranjan Patnaik's residence here in the last two days have given clear indication that he is very much on the race for the top post. J B Patnaiksupporters are of the view that the AICC would agree either on Niranjan Patnaik or Matlub Ali in order not to antagonise the outgoing chief minister particularly in an election year.

The central leadership of the party is aware of the hold of J B Patnaik in the party in Orissa and his capability to create problems for the party during the polls, if kept dissatisfied.

Some central sources too indicated that choice is now limited between Niranjan Patnaik and Matlub Ali. However, Hemananda Biswal, a non-controversial tribal leader is very much in contention. His election would lead to appeasing the backward class voters and the same may prove to be extremely beneficial for Congress in the next Assembly polls. Biswal had served as the chief minister for three months in 1989 and was the deputy chief minister under J B Patnaik till his nomination as the OPCC chief.Sources close to Biswal maintained that nearly 60 per cent of the party legislators have already expressed their solidarity with him and that theleader has already met J B Patnaik thrice in as many days for support.Niranjan Patnaik is the elder brother of chief minister's son-in-law, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik.

Matlub Ali's candidature has gained strength from the minority angle. He is non-controversial too. Since J B Patnaik resigned owning moral responsibility for the series of attacks on the minorities in the state, the high command may settle for Ali in a bid to send a pro-minority signal across the country to improve the image of Congress.