Kaul emerges as possible choice for PCC leadership

Some Kangra leaders, including former PCC president Sat Mahajan, are also opposed to Virbhadra Singh getting Chander Kumar nominated. “He is as good as Sant Ram — a yes-man of Virbhadra Singh,” allege his detractors.

However, Thakur, has greater acceptability in the party ranks. During his tenure as Speaker, Thakur had excelled in his working and developed a good rapport with several central leaders. He enjoys good relations with former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma, who has been assigned a key-role by party president Sonia Gandhi, on revamping of the Congress set-up in the states.

For past four days, the senior Congress leaders from Virbhadra Singh camp and the rivals had been camping at Delhi to pressurise the high command. Virbhadra Singh and his loyalists were not willing to let rivals score over them on CLP leadership. There was almost a complete consensus on replacement of Sant Ram.

Kaul Singh Thakur though favours continuation of Virbhadra Singh as CLP leader but has also been projecting himself as candidate for the post of the PCC president. His supporters say Thakur is young, energetic, non- controversial. “ If the Congress wants to fight Sukh Ram , then leadership from Mandi needs to be encouraged,” suggests a Thakur loyalist. The Mandi unit of the Congress has also endorsed the name of former speaker for the party post.

Some sympathisers of Thakur in the CLP and PCC admit that former speaker has the potential to provide a better leadership and he would not be a mere yes-man of Virbhadra Singh. “He has the seniority and capability to manage the party affairs,” the DCC suggests.

The other names in the race include former Youth Congress president Anand Sharma, Viplove Thakur and Sat Mahajan.