It’s official: Pranab pips Arjun, no 1 at AICC meet

The decision to field Mukherjee in this prime role came at a two-hour CWC meeting chaired by party president Sonia Gandhi tonight. It is a bit of a setback to HRD Minister Arjun Singh, who had of late managed to hog the limelight by sparking a debate on the RSS. Originally, Singh was tipped to move the political resolution while Mukherjee was slated to pilot the economic document. However, the combined resolution proposal pushed Singh to the secondary role.

Quite literally. Singh will second the main resolution. And this honour too, he has to share with External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, an old family loyalist.

Another count on which Singh has apparently lost out is his criticism of the RSS. The CWC, sources said, has endorsed Mukherjee’s line of not keeping any undue focus on RSS. Ideally, Singh would have wanted the party to echo his views. They said the saffron organisation would be criticised ‘‘in a flow’’ in the resolution while Singh and other delegates would be free to articulate their views the way they wish.

Water Resources Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, sources said, will move the resolution paying tributes to Rajiv Gandhi. The session, coinciding with his 60th birth anniversary, is dedicated to his memory. Rajiv’s buddy, Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, will pilot the resolution on panchayati raj, aimed at commemmorating Rajiv’s lasting contribution for the empowerment of women. This will be seconded by former Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

A special resolution, lauding Sonia for ‘‘leading the party to victory through her tireless campaign’’ in recent polls, will be moved by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Sources said the AICC would re-affirm its commitment to the welfare of the common man, endorse the common minimum programme (CMP), vow to defend secularism and fight communal forces. The expertise of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be visible in the economic component of the main resolution.