The current mood in the AICC is to renominate Pradesh Congress chiefs, a strategy reflected in major states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal and Delhi. The new PCC presidents, especially in the states where the party is in the Opposition, are either seen as chief ministerial candidates or helping hands to the CLP leaders.
The Congress leadership has given a second term to Ms Rita Bahuguna Joshi (Uttar Pradesh), Mr Manikrao Thakre (Maharashtra), Mr D. Srinivas (Andhra Pradesh), Mr Manas Bhunia (West Bengal), Mr Ramesh Chennithala (Kerala), Mr Jai Prakash Aggarwal (Delhi), Mr Bhubaneshwar Kalita (Assam), Mr K.V. Thangkabalu (Tamil Nadu) and others.
It has replaced the PCC chiefs in Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Chhattisgarh by appointing Dr G. Parmeshwar, Mr Arjun Modhwadia, Union minister Kantilal Bhuria, Capt. Amarinder Singh and Mr Nandkumar Patel, respectively. However, the leadership has yet to take a decision about PCC chiefs in Rajasthan, Orissa, Haryana, Bihar, Mumbai regional Congress and Jammu and Kashmir.
Next year will see Assembly elections in over half-a-dozen states, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Goa and Manipur.
While Capt. Amarinder Singh is already seen as the Congress’ chief ministerial candidate in Punjab, the party has been lacking a leader who could be perceived as a CM candidate in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. But Mr Bhuria is not seen as a CM candidate in Madhya Pradesh.
In UP, the party high command would find it difficult to remain silent on the leadership when the Congress rivals — the BSP and the SP — will fight the electoral battle under the leadership of Ms Mayawati and Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav. In the last election, the BJP had projected a chief ministerial candidate.
In Karnataka, the Congress is divided on its strategy — whether to take the JD(S) with it to check the ruling BJP or fight the battle on its own. This is because the Deve Gowda-led party does not want the Congress to occupy the entire Opposition space. Besides, CLP leader Siddaramaiah is a product of the Janata Parivar.
In Kerala, the race for CMship would be between Mr Oommen Chandy and Mr Chennithala. But in West Bengal, the Congress leaders are keen to join a Mamata Banerjee-led government if the high command gives a green signal. In that situation, Mr Bhunia can bargain for a plump ministry. Congress insiders are unsure whether the party would press for a deputy chief minister’s post after May 13.