The Congress high command is yet to make up its mind on a change of guard in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan at a time when aspirants are lobbying hard to get the chief ministership of these states.
While Rajasthan goes to the polls next year, Assembly elections in Andhra and Maharashtra are due to be held in 2014.
Asked about the move to replace these CMs, Congress sources said 'no decision' had been taken yet.
This can be interpreted differently - either they will stay, or a decision on a successor hadn’t been taken yet.
Chief ministers Kiran Kumar Reddy (Andhra), Prithviraj Chavan (Maharashtra) and Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan) are not stable for different reasons.
Andhra Pradesh has already had two chief ministers—Y.S.Rajsekhara Reddy and K. Rosaiah.
The incumbent chief minister kiran Kumar Reddy has not been able to delive politically after the formation of the YSR Congress Party led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and the agitation for a seperate Telangana state.
“But a change should be for better,this is not the time for making experiment,” a section of the Congress viewed.
But the Congress is expected to take some corrective in Andhra, the strongest state of the party.
In Maharashtra, chief minister Prathviraj Chavan’s clean image and loyalty to the Gandhi-Nehru family, has not converted into votes as was seen in the BMC and the local body elections.
He could return back to the Centre only if(Chavan) realises he cannot deliver in the Lok Sabha and the state Assembly polls, they said.
But there is a question mark on elevation of state industries minister Narayan Rane as a CM. This is because it would not only consolidate the Shiv Sena, BJP, MNS and the NCP besides loyalists in the Congress will not accept him.
Mr Rane who had joined the Congress in 2005 ,was also suspended from the party. Marathas in Western Maharashtra and Marathawada have yet to accept him as a leader.
In Rajasthan, dissidence against Gehlot has been on for quite sometime in the wake of a police firing incident which has angered the minorities.