Sonia discusses Maharashtra PCC issue with senior leaders

Beleaguered Maharashtra PCC chief Manikrao Thakre is facing anxious moments with Congress President Sonia Gandhi set to take a decision soon on the appointment of the next state unit chief.

Thakre is himself a strong contender for a second term and is backed by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan but staunchly opposed by Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and several senior Maharashtra ministers.

The issue of appointing a new PCC chief was deliberated by Gandhi with senior party leaders here today in the backdrop of a controversy involving Thakre over collection of funds from Congress ministers in Maharashtra for her rally in Sewagram on Friday.

Congress sources, however, described the meeting as routine, noting that the issue of Maharashtra had not figured so far as A K Antony, who is in-charge of party affairs in the state, was on an official visit abroad.

The meeting took place in the light of the Maharashtra Congress authorising the Congress president to nominate the new PCC chief. Gandhi is engaged in the process of deciding the PCC chiefs for all states following her re-election as party chief recently.

The Opposition has attacked the Congress over the issue of raising funds for Gandhi’s rally and demanded a judicial probe into the issue.

This was after TV channels showed footage of Thakre and Congress leader Satish Chaturvedi allegedly discussing matters relating to fund collection.

The video showed Thakre speaking with Chaturvedi about fund collection from Congress ministers, including Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, for the Sewagram rally.

Chavan has said all the money raised for the rally has been accounted for.