Maha Congress likely to undergo overhaul soon

Mumbai, Mar 11: Poll debacles in the recent assembly elections in five states may see organisational reshuffle in the Maharashtra unit of the Congress.

Even though, the overall performance of Congress in the recent local bodies and municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra was satisfactory, party's central leadership is upset since the NCP has overtaken the Congress in terms of vote share and in the total number of seats.

The central leadership considers this as an alarm for the party, as the NCP may demand Chief Minister's post, if Congress-NCP coalition wins the 2014 assembly elections.

According to sources in the state Congress, the party leadership is toying with the idea of overhauling the state unit, along with that of the Mumbai Congress. The leadership is of the view that NCP has surged ahead of Congress in the local bodies elections, because of organisational deficiency.

"Even though the AICC is unhappy with the Chief Minister's performance, their assessment is that Prithviraj Chavan has been able to get rid of the corrupt image of the state, due to the scams and controversies," sources said adding that Chavan will continue to be the chief minister, "as there is no credible alternative".

The organisational reshuffle is expected after the budget session, sources added. Incumbent state unit president Manikrao Thakre, who has completed more than three years at the post, maybe inducted into the ministry, as the Congress has three vacancies from its quota.

Thakre's term in the legislative council ends in July and he is likely to be renominated. Among the probable names being considered are those of senior party leader from the adivasi (tribal) community and social justice minister Shivajirao Moghe, EGS minister Nitin Raut, belonging to the backwad classes, OBC leader Sudhakar Gangane, Hussain Dalwai, a Rajya Sabha member, senior leader Rohidas Patil, Gurudas Kamat and Lok sabha MP Jaywant Awade.

PTI