In a major development, Congress’ interim president Sonia Gandhi has appointed Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as chief of the West Bengal Congress Committee. The five-term MP, Chowdhury is presently the floor leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha.
Now, after his appointment as president of PCC in West Bengal, Chowdhury will have to leave this post. As a result of this, MPs such as Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari will be in race for this position in the Lok Sabha. The development has rekindled hope of both the leaders. However, Tharoor and Tewari had signed the controversial letter addressed to Sonia Gandhi. Now, the Congress interim boss gives anyone of them the post of party leader in the Lower House or not is something that will be watched keenly in the political circles.
If Sonia does not appoint any of the two as leader of Congress in the LS, then Gaurav Gogoi may get the chance, as he is already holding the post of deputy leader of the party in the House.
Meanwhile, appointment of Chowdhury as WBPCC chief is being seen as Congress high command’s reward to him for being loyal to the Gandhis. Chowdhury was not with those disgruntled leaders who had written the letter to Sonia Gandhi. He was rather critical of such a move. The PCC chief post was vacant due to demise of Somen Mitra.