Chandigarh October 26:
Former Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh seems all set to take over the reins of the party in the state. An announcement to this effect would be made in a day or two by the party high command in New Delhi.
While earlier the names of senior party leader and Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa and the current working president Mohinder Singh Kaypee were being considered, it seems that Capt Singh has pipped them to the post. Party sources here had earlier hinted that the Congress high command could consider sending Ambika Soni, Union information and broadcasting minister, to take over the reins of the party in the state.
However, sources added, that once the Supreme Court quashed Amarinder's expulsion from the state Assembly for his alleged involvement in the Amritsar land allotment scam, he stood out as a strong contender, more so in view of the general opinion in the party circles that he is capable of leading Congress to victory in the assembly elections, barely a year-and-half away. In his chequered political career spanning over two decades, he has served as the president of state Congress unit from 1999-2002 and then as chief minister from 2002-2007.
Party sources in Delhi also informed that in Himachal Pradesh the party reins would remain in the hands of Kaul Singh Thakur, MLA from Drang in Mandi district. Earlier, Himachal's former chief minister Virbhadra Singh had suggested some names for the party president's post. However, it seems that Kaul Singh has emerged as the strongest contender and seems set to retain the post. He also enjoys the support of Vidya Stokes, leader of Opposition in Himachal assembly.
Former Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh seems all set to take over the reins of the party in the state. An announcement to this effect would be made in a day or two by the party high command in New Delhi.
While earlier the names of senior party leader and Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa and the current working president Mohinder Singh Kaypee were being considered, it seems that Capt Singh has pipped them to the post. Party sources here had earlier hinted that the Congress high command could consider sending Ambika Soni, Union information and broadcasting minister, to take over the reins of the party in the state.
However, sources added, that once the Supreme Court quashed Amarinder's expulsion from the state Assembly for his alleged involvement in the Amritsar land allotment scam, he stood out as a strong contender, more so in view of the general opinion in the party circles that he is capable of leading Congress to victory in the assembly elections, barely a year-and-half away. In his chequered political career spanning over two decades, he has served as the president of state Congress unit from 1999-2002 and then as chief minister from 2002-2007.
Party sources in Delhi also informed that in Himachal Pradesh the party reins would remain in the hands of Kaul Singh Thakur, MLA from Drang in Mandi district. Earlier, Himachal's former chief minister Virbhadra Singh had suggested some names for the party president's post. However, it seems that Kaul Singh has emerged as the strongest contender and seems set to retain the post. He also enjoys the support of Vidya Stokes, leader of Opposition in Himachal assembly.
