Speculations ripe about next DPCC president

New Delhi: With the passing away of Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit, questions are being raised in the political circles as to whom the party will entrust the responsibility of handling its state unit in the national capital. Though the Congress had appointed three working presidents — Haroon Yusuf, Devender Yadav and Rajesh Lilothia, as working presidents to assist Dikshit in running the party affairs, the question is, whether the three would take decisions in unison or somebody else would be entrusted the job to handle the party’s state unit.

Dikshit’s sudden demise has created a vacuum in Delhi Congress leadership that too at a time when Assembly elections are due in February next year. Sources said that the party may soon take a call on who would replace her, so that the party does not suffer much.

Dikshit recently, hogged the headlines when her decision to dissolve all the 280 block committees was overturned by AICC general secretary in-charge of Delhi P.C Chacko on the ground that such a move could badly harm the party in the coming state polls. But Dikshit went ahead with her decision and appointed observers for both district and block committees to shortlist candidates for the post of block presidents. Again, Mr Chacko had to step in. He told her in no certain terms that important decisions should be taken in due consultations with the working presidents.

Sources said that till the time a new president was appointed by the party, the three working presidents would be told to take decisions to strengthen the party at the grass roots level. In this direction, the party may speed-up the membership drive as well.