Cong gets multiple-face leadership in Maharashtra polls

Industries minister Narayan Rane has been appointed to head the campaign committee

The Congress high command seems to have clipped the wings of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan by appointing his competitors in the party on various poll management committees.

Chavan has repeatedly said he’d be leading the faction-ridden party in the legislative Assembly polls, slated for October. However, the high command has opted for a collective leadership.

Industries minister Narayan Rane, who’d publicly blamed Chavan for the party's rout in the Lok Sabha poll and even given his resignation, has been appointed to head the campaign committee. Further, former chief minister Ashok Chavan, also engaged in a legal battle to clear his  name in the Adarsh housing and paid news scandals, has been made coordination committee chairman. Former Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, defeated in the Lok Sabha polls in his home seat, will head the poll manifesto committee. And, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Manikrao Thakre, an arch rival of Chavan, will head the parliamentary party board, which will select the candidates.

PCC spokesman Ratnakar Mahajan told Business Standard: “The real issue is of complete overhaul of the  party in terms of ideological direction, commensurate with organisational structure and projection of a promising leadership.

Chavan, who survived a campaign launched by some for his removal as CM after the general election defeat, has said there’s no question of projecting anybody else as chief ministerial candidate. However, his rivals named earlier will do whatever they can to keep their footing and move up.

Party ticket aspirants, who’d gathered on Sunday at the state headquarters here to appear before the selection panel,  were confused over these appointments and feared that multiple leaders might fuel groupism.