Congress appoints 5 new PCC chiefs

The changes come at a time when Rahul Gandhi's two-week sabbatical, in the midst of the crucial Budget session, is nearing an end

The Congress has undertaken a massive organisational overhaul, with party President Sonia Gandhi appointing five new Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chiefs. The appointments, which are a precursor to the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) reshuffle next month, carry a clear imprint of party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi. The new PCC chiefs include Rahul Gandhi’s close aide Ajay Maken in Delhi, Ashok Chavan in Maharashtra, Ghulam Ahmed Mir in Jammu and Kashmir, Bharatsinh Solanki in Gujarat and Uttam Reddy in Telangana. AICC secretary Sanjay Nirupam has been appointed chief of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee.  

The rejig which comes in the midst of Rahul Gandhi’s “introspection leave” is being seen as a clearing out of the existing status quo as was desired by him, for long. It is believed that Gandhi is likely to take over the reins of the party in the next few months, maybe as early as the AICC session itself.

Maken, who was the Congress campaign committee chief for the Delhi Assembly polls, replaces Arvinder Singh Lovely.

Despite the catastrophic defeat of the Congress, Maken was favoured all along by the party high command as being the successor to former three-time chief minister Sheila Dikshit as the Congress face in the national capital. Maken at present is also the AICC’s communication cell in-charge.

Again Ashok Chavan’s appointment, replacing Manikrao Thakre as Maharashtra PCC chief, is being perceived as a step towards placing Rahul Gandhi’s choice of people in crucial states. The party was decimated in Delhi and Maharashtra.  

In Gujarat, Bharatsinh Solanki, who replaces Arjun Modhwadia as Congress chief, is a former Union minister and son of former chief minister Madhavsinh Solanki. Solanki is not new at the helm, and had been PCC chief five years ago.

Jammu and Kashmir, another state where Congress recently faced defeat in the polls, has Ghulam Ahmed Mir replacing Saifuddin Soz as PCC chief.  

The appointment of new chiefs is clear indication of the old guard -- the seniors giving way to new and younger leaders.  Rahul Gandhi, it is believed, has for some time now been dissatisfied with party seniors and has been keen to bring about a generational change within the party. It is rumoured that Rahul went on a leave at this crucial juncture, as he was miffed at not being given a freehand in the affairs of the party.