Indian state leader has tendered resignation

Press, 18 December 1976, Page 8

Indian state leader has tendered resignation

NZPA New Delhi The Indian Government has imposed direct Presidential rule on the eastern state of Orissa after the resignation of the Congress Party’s Chief Minister there, Mrs Nandini Satpathy. Mrs Satpathy’s resignation followed a split in the Congress Legislature party and withdrawal of support by several members, including some Ministers in the State Cabinet. Presidential rule in Orissa is expected to continue until the Prime Minister (Mrs Gandhi) selects an alternate Congress leader in the state to head the provincial Administration.

In her letter of resignation to the state Governor, Mrs Satpathy, a staunch follower of Mrs Gandhi, said: “I will be guided entirely by the Prime Minister, the Congress High Command, and the opinion of my party col» leagues in my future course of action.” Mrs Satpathy’s resignation followed reports of differences between her and the Youth Congress leader, Mr Sanjay Gandhi, in running the affairs of the Youth Congress wing in the state. These differences came to a head during the All-India Congress Committee meeting in Gauhati, Assam, last month. Mrs Gandhi warned Con-

gress Chief Ministers at the session, without naming them, that she knew some were trying to build their own empires in their states. Mrs Satpathy, aged 47, a former Information Minister in Mrs Gandhi’s Cabinet, became Chief Minister of Orissa (population more than 22 million) in June, 1972.

A similar crisis has been developing in the neighbouring West Bengal state, also ruled by the Congress Party.; Both Mrs Satpathy and her West Bengal counterpart, Mr Sidhartha Shankar Ray, also a former Minister in Mrs Gandhi’s Cabinet,; were hand-picked by the Prime Minister to lead thestates.