Sonia names Kalla Rajasthan party president

Congress president Sonia Gandhi today named Bulaki Das Kalla as the new president of Rajasthan Congress, charting a middle course given the ...

Congress president Sonia Gandhi today named Bulaki Das Kalla as the new president of Rajasthan Congress, charting a middle course given the friction between the Jat lobby and AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot.

Kalla, presently leader of the Congress Legislature Party, replaces Narain Singh, a veteran Jat leader from Sikar district. Singh had been appointed to the post about a year ago after Girija Vyas stepped down from the office to be appointed AICC media cell chief and subsequently, chairperson of the National Commission for Women.

The choice of Kalla, a Pushkarna Brahmin from Bikaner, implies that Sonia has chosen to play it safe following the uneasy equation between the powerful Jat lobby and Gehlot. Singh owed his allegiance to the Natwar Singh-Sisram Ola combine. Ever since he assumed charge as state unit president, Singh had been at loggerheads with Gehlot and his supporters. He had initiated disciplinary action against several members of the Gehlot group, including state general secretary Ashk Ali Tak, joint secretary Mukesh Balmiki and MLA Babu Lal Nagar for anti-party activities during panchayat and local body elections. Gehlot had to approach the high command for a stay.

However, Gehlot has achieved only partial success with the removal of Singh as Kalla is also from the Natwar-Ola camp. Sources disclosed that Gehlot was lobbying for the appointment of either C.P. Joshi or Chandra Bhan, both former ministers, for state president, but the two Union ministers stalled his move.

The appointment comes just a month ahead of the organisational polls.