NEW DELHI, Oct 11 � The race for the post of PCC president is likely to intensify further, with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi scheduled to arrive in the capital on Tuesday.
AICC sources said that the list of PCC presidents are likely to be finalised by October 20-24 ahead of �AICC session tentatively scheduled to be held here on November 1. The list of PCC presidents is expected to be announced ahead of the AICC session, he added.
The AICC session would be followed by a three-day plenary in December, when the party�s highest decision-making body Congress Working Committee (CWC) would be reconstituted. The plenary would also see appointment of a new team of AICC office-bearers and general secretary in-charge for States.
Ahead of the AICC reshuffle, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is expected to reshuffle his ministry ahead of the Winter Session that is expected to start in the first week of November.
Sources said that several of the Union Ministers, holding party posts, may be relieved of political responsibilities because of their pressing engagement, while some may be brought into the AICC.
Sources said general secretary for Assam and Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily may be relieved of his party responsibilities. He is currently general secretary in-charge for three States including Assam.
The names that are doing the rounds included Mohsina Kidwai and BK Hari Prasad for Assam, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister is expected to express his opinion on appointment of the next PCC president for Assam. While Bhubaneswar Kalita still remains a strong contender, Gogoi has backed Dr Bhumidhar Barman for the post. The party has formally authorised AICC president Sonia Gandhi to select the new president, though behind-the-scene lobbying continued.
Dr Barman was in Delhi a couple of weeks back to meet Gandhi and other top AICC leaders but could not do so and had to contend himself by meeting Veerappa Moily.
With Assembly election round the corner, AICC is nervous over the emerging differences between Gogoi and Kalita and is keen to put an end to the politicking.
