While the Congress is decide on appointment of presidents for the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) and the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC), its ally, the Nationalist Congress Party, is going full steam ahead with preparations for the local bodies' elections later this year.
Though Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan announced in New Delhi that he will contest the Legislative Council elections, the Congress high command is yet to decide who will make way for him. He has about three months left to be elected a member of the legislature.
Sources in the party say the Chief Minister's election has to be completed by May 11. Mr. Chavan's Rajya Sabha membership may be given to the person who resigns to make way for the Chief Minister.
However, the high command is considering MPCC president Suresh Pachauri for the seat vacated by Mr. Chavan. The sources said this move might not go down well with the State unit of the party, which had opposed Anand Sharma from contesting the Rajya Sabha elections from Maharashtra.
Mr. Pachauri, who was Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, resigned in 2008 to head the MPCC before the elections. The high command wants to bring him back to the Centre, it is learnt.
Amid the factional fights, the former Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, against whom the Supreme Court has passed strictures, is backing Latur MP Jaywantrao Awale for the MPCC president post.
Outgoing MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre may not be asked to continue and the Congress is likely to look for a leader who could hold the party together during the crucial local bodies' elections.
The sources said the name of State party vice-president Rajni Patil was under consideration along with another former Minister, Vasudha Deshmukh. Ms. Patil, who is from Beed in the Marathwada region, could be a strong candidate for the MPCC president post.
Other names under consideration are Minister Nitin Raut and Eknath Gaikwad, MP.
For Mumbai, the crucial municipal elections are to be held next year. Outgoing MRCC president Kripa Shankar Singh may not be nominated again for, a disproportionate assets case is pending against him in the Bombay High Court.
Tussle between factions
There is a tussle between factions loyal to Mr. Singh and to the former MRCC president, Gurudas Kamat, who is now Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and Communications and Information Technology.
About six months ago, the MPCC and the MRCC passed resolutions authorising party president Sonia Gandhi to elect their leaders.
Meanwhile, the NCP is coasting along — it has two MLC elections coming up next week, and is sure of a win in both. It is holding a day-long meeting on panchayati raj on February 26 in Navi Mumbai, which will be addressed by party president Sharad Pawar. The main issue for discussion will be the strategy for the elections to zilla parishads and municipal corporations.
