Cong not done with Gujarat clean-up yet

Sonia, after one such meeting with AICC general secretary in-charge of Gujarat Kamal Nath, this evening all but cleared Shankar Singh Vaghela as the next PCC chief, it is learnt. Barring a last-minute hitch, Vaghela’s name will be announced shortly, sources said.

Kamal Nath said they would be initiating ‘‘consultations with Congress groups in Gujarat. We intend to come up with an effective combination to counter the divisive forces of the state BJP whose credibility has hit its nadir.’’

Nath said both Chaudhary and Rawal had promised to give a free hand to the party high command to carry out more changes in Gujarat Congress ‘‘if required’’.

In what is being viewed as a victory of sorts for the leadership here, the powerful Madhav Singh Solanki group in the state has decided to back Vaghela. That leaves the field almost clear for the BJP-turned-Congress leader who is being fancied for his ‘‘energetic’’ style of functioning.

There still are quite a few heavyweights eyeing the PCC chief’s slot and would have to be accommodated somehow without bringing the simmering infighting to the fore. This motley group consist of leaders like Shakti Singh Gohil (a former vice-president of Gujarat Congress), Naveen Rawani, former state home minister Narhari Amin and Chimanbhai Patel’s widow Urmilla Bhen Patel.

Another factor being taken into consideration is the influence wielded on Gujarat politics by Ahmed Patel, another AICC general secretary. Chaudhary is widely believed to be ‘‘his man’’ and to prevent any adverse fallout of his removal, Patel too has been involved in the strategy discussions.