Cong snubs Mamata, replaces Ghani Khan with Pranab

With Pranab, whose proximity to the Left parties is well-known, at the helm of the West Bengal state unit, Sonia obviously isn’t attaching much importance to the mahajot formula, and has focussed more on keeping the Left in “good humour”.

Chowdhary’s removal — he has been accommodated as a special invitee in the CWC — and Pranab’s appointment, say party sources, also makes it apparent that the high command’s priority is to strengthen the faction-ridden state unit even if it means going it alone in the assembly elections.

Pranab is not known to get along very well with Trinamool chief Mamata Bannerjee — sharp differences with Pranab and then PCC chief Somen Mitra was one of the reasons for her leaving the party in 1997 — and his appointment is aimed at putting a check on any further exodus from the state unit to the Trinamool.

His predecessor had been giving the high command anxious moments in the last few months by coming out openly in favour of an alliance with Mamata although she’s part of the NDA. Chowdhary’s strong plea for a mahajot had also fuelled factionalism in the state unit.

The “package deal” for the West Bengal state unit didn’t come easy. Chowdhary was reluctant to relinquish the PCC chief’s job. It was only after he met Sonia Tuesday morning, where he was assured that his nominees would also be accommodated in the revamped state unit did he relent. As a further sop to Chowdhary, the post of working president in the PCC, occupied by his bete noire, P.R. Dasmunshi, has also been abolished.

While Mukherjee himself wasn’t too keen on the new assignment which involves a shift from national to state politics, party sources said the choice narrowed down to him as not only is he the seniormost leader in the state but his name was also “acceptable” to the various factions.

Speaking to reporters soon after Pranab’s appointment was made official by AICC general secretary incharge Prabha Rau, Chowdhary expressed “satisfaction” at the change of guard. The outgoing PCC chief claimed that it was he who had recommended Pranab’s name to Sonia since “he was the seniormost leader available and would with his new ideas help strengthen the state unit.”