PCC chiefs in poll-bound states set to stay
The current mood in the Congress is not to replace Pradesh Congress Committee presidents in at least half a dozen states as most of them are going to the polls next year. But Karnataka Congress leaders are pressing for a change fearing that a status quo in the organisation will not help in the long run.
While Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry are going to the polls next year, Bihar Assembly elections could be held in the next four to five months.
Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee would continue to lead the West Bengal Congress at least till the polls, party insiders said adding that his presence is required in the crucial seat sharing negotiations with the ally Trinamul Congress and later power sharing formula between the two parties. This is because the trend in West Bengal is against the Left Front ruling the state for more than three decades.
Mr Mukherjee, also the Leader of the Lok Sabha, has been the key strategist in the party and the government.
In Tamil Nadu, Mr K.V. Thangkabalu is heading the PCC. Though he is seen close to the AIADMK he has full backing of the Union minister and AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, sources said. So it will be interesting to see whether the party high command appoints someone “comfortable” with the DMK or will go by the state party workers. The Congress has been out of power in Tamil Nadu for over 40 years. The party is keen to share power with the DMK-led front but the latter has been opposing it.
According to the sources, Mr Bhubaneshwar Kalita would be continued as the Assam PCC chief, Mr Ramesh Chennithala would not be disturbed as the Kerala PCC president and Mr A.V. Subramaniam as chief of the Puducherry unit of the party due to the impending Assembly elections in five states and the party managers are confident to win at least four out of it.
In Bihar, the party high command made changes ahead of the polls by appointing Mehboob Ali Kaisar and made the Union minister and AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik as in charge of this key state.
Maharashtra PCC president Manikrao Thakre might be continued. This is because the high command gave a second term to the chief minister Ashok Chavan after the victory in the Assembly polls last year. If this is the criteria, then Mr Thakre cannot be changed.
In MP, Gujatat and Goa the incumbent PCC presidents — Mr Suresh Pachouri, Mr Siddharth Patel and Mr Subhash Shirodkar — would be continued due to the state-level compulsions but in Rajasthan the PCC chief Dr C.P. Joshi may not contest the election being the Union minister.
Significantly, Ms Rita Bahuguna Joshi is the only women PCC chief the Congress has in its over 35 PCCs across the country. She is heading the party in the largest state of Uttar Pradesh ruled by chief minister Mayawati.
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