A first list of the Pradesh Congress Committee presidents is likely to be announced in the next two to three days. An indication in this regard was given by the Congress on Sunday night.
The Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has already undertaken the exercise following the PCCs resolution authorising her to nominate state unit presidents. She has to appoint over 35 PCC presidents including the Regional Congress Committee chiefs.
Sources said she has consulted the AICC general secretaries and in-charges handling different states and leaders of the states concerned. If insiders are to be believed, about a dozen PCC chiefs are expected to be replaced for different reasons. While Maharashtra PCC chief Manikarao Thakre has weakened his case after the controversy on collecting Monday for a party rally in Vidarbha, the Andhra Congress president D. Srinivas has been losing the Assembly elections. Gujarat PCC president Siddhartha Patel has sent his resignation letter to the high command after the Congress’ poor performance in the local body elections.
And in Karnataka PCC and CLP are led by the former Janata Parivar leaders. They are more comfortable with the JD(S) and thus failing to rejuvenate the state Congress. Delhi Congress chief J.P. Aggarwal is unpopular in the party because of his style of functioning. And the Rajasthan PCC president C.P. Joshi cannot get a second term being the Union minister. The party will find it difficult to maintain a states quo in Tamil Nadu and Punjab going to the polls.
Union minister G.K. Vasan is keen to lead the party in the coming electoral battle and thus pressing the high command to replace the incumbent chief K.V. Thangkabalu. And in Punjab, the party needs a face to fight the ruling Akali Dal-BJP combine in both the urban and rural areas. In that situation the current PCC chief Mohinder Singh Kaypee will find it difficult to retain the position.
The sources said the Congress has not been functioning as the Opposition party in Orissa effectively and thus suggesting a change.
But the party is unlikely to make any change in J&K, Kerala, West Bengal, Bihar PCC chiefs.