Hectic lobbying over Assam PCC chief post

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With Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhubaneswar Kalita lobbying for a fresh term, his detractor and ailing chief minister Tarun Gogoi is not leaving any stone unturned to turn the tables on them. The Gogoi camp is not only eager to change the state unit leadership but they also want a man of their choice as PCC chief in this election year.
Though the ball is in the court of Congress high command Sonia Gandhi, the ongoing lobbying for the selection of PCC chief, which has reached New Delhi, has divided the state party unit in two camps. Mr Gogoi is of course pushing for veteran Congress leader and Cabinet minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman but insiders claim that he is not opposed to the selection of his loyalist health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for the post.
Mr Sarma, who is a dark hoarse in the race, is said to have the blessing of Ahmed Patel, the political adviser of the Congress president, who considers him a better option to manage the elections in absence of chief minister Tarun Gogoi whose illness may reduce his desired movement during the elections.
The Gogoi camp is supporting the nomination of a young leader as PCC chief in order to counter the emergence of former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta in the Opposition Asom Gana Parishad.
Though, names of young tribal leader and minister Bharat Narah was also doing the round but possibility of his wife and MP Ranee Narah getting ministerial berth in the next Cabinet reshuffle has reduced his possibility.
Former Congress MP Kirip Cheliha has also thrown his hat into the ring but Congress insiders claim that final decision would be taken by Congress high command.