Sources close to Biswal said that the tribal leader was asked by Congress Working Committee member K Karunakaran last night to rush to New Delhi. Karunakaran had visited the state capital last week as the All India Congress Committee observer to elicit opinion of the partymen as to who would be the best choice as the PCC president. He has already submitted his report to the AICC president Sonia Gandhi and the announcement is expected within a day or two.

Biswal also had a two-hour long discussion with Patnaik following the latter's return from Delhi yesterday. Patnaik, who has already offered to quit from the presidentship of the PCC, is believed to be backing Biswal as hissuccessor.

Though what transpired between them is not known, Patnaik reportedly persuaded Biswal to accept the post. They also discussed about the cabinet reshuffle which is on the cards.

If Biswal, the tribal leader from western Orissa and former Chief Minister, agreed to head the party in the state then, he would have to quit from the cabinet in view of the one-man-one post policy of Congress.

Congress high command is also believed to have asked MP Giridhar Gomang, another tribal leader, to take over the mantle of the party in the state. But Gomang has reportedly declined to take the responsibility as long as Patnaik remained the Chief Minister.

Patnaik, though was at loggerheads with Hemananda Biswal, has of late made up to counter growing dissidence led by his other deputy Basant Kumar Biswal.