'Sonia Gandhi to decide on Congress' state unit chiefs soon'

According to party sources, Gandhi, who has been authorised by the state units to decide their chiefs as part of the organisational elections, will hold consultations with the general secretaries in charge of states before finalising the appointments.

The Pradesh Returning Officers (PROs) who have the responsibility of conducting elections in each state are also likely to give their recommendations about the choice of state party chief to Gandhi, the sources said.

Congress's Central Election Authority (CEA) chairman Oscar Fernandes Saturday held separate meetings with the general secretaries and the state returning officers regarding the pending process of organisational elections.

"The process is on. The appointment of PCC chiefs is expected to be done before the AICC (All India Congress Committee) session," a CEA official told IANS. The party has decided to organise a AICC session before Diwali which will be followed by the plenary meeting and the process of organisational elections has to completed before the meetings.

Gandhi, who was re-elected party chief Sep 3, was authorised by the Congress units in states to decide the appointment of party chiefs.  Party sources said that while some of the state unit chiefs are likely to be reappointed, there would be changes in some states including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.