Cong poll mgmt panel likely to be formed after yatra

Raipur, April 10, 2013

Congress is likely to announce its state election management committee after parivartan yatra. The panel is said to have 12-15 members. Although, majority of state Congress coordination committee members are expected to get place in poll management panel, the final decision will be taken by party’s national vice president Rahul Gandhi.

The objective of constituting poll management panel early is to chalk out strategy for each assembly seat.  

Recently, union minister of state Charandas Mahant had informed that Congress would announce its candidates three months before polls. With state poll management panel coming into action beforehand, it will be full of ideas to be implemented in every constituency. This is how, the party hopes, the candidates would work more efficiently to woo voters in their areas. 

In previous assembly elections, veteran leader Vidya Charan Shukla was head of the poll management committee. This time, he is less likely to get the job as names of AICC treasurer Motilal Vora and union minister of state Charandas Mahant have flashed as prominent contenders for the coveted job.

To check factionalism, Vora could be ideal candidate to head poll management panel as he is accepted by all camps. The party’s national leadership is also likely to allow Vora to take the baton as his presence would not only beef up state unit but also create congenial atmosphere for arrival of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the hustings.

Mahant, on the other side, too can get opportunity to head the poll management committee for his excellent rapport with state Congress president Nandkumar Patel and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey. Mahant, who won the sole Lok Sabha seat for the party in previous general elections, is also a strong contender for chief ministership from the party, though he denies all such surmises.