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Sonia's desire for a vibrant Congress may see heads rolling

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is poised to bring young blood into the party -- even at the expense of veterans -- after Monday's All India Congress Committee special session.

The disclosure, made to a youth delegation earlier this week, seems to have sent shock waves among the section which had enjoyed the patronage of former party chief Sitaram Kesri.

The veterans's apprehension stems from talk circulating in party circles that the new Congress chief's desire for a more vibrant party may cost them their jobs.

According to a party joint secretary, 'an early victim' will be Congress Working Committee member and party general secretary Tariq Anwar who has been Kesri's closest aide. Anwar, it is learnt, has kept up his defence of Kesri, provoking Kesri's detractors who are now masquerading as Sonia's well-wishers.

It is understood that Sonia is considering replacing Anwar with a young and a dynamic partyman who is not only active but also a known Sonia loyalist.

Indications have also surfaced that Sonia may do away the AICC vice-presidentship, now held by Jitendra Prasada.

While Prasada recently told the media that Sonia had assured party officials that they would continue in their posts, the Congress joint secretary indicated that he may face the axe. Prasada's CWC berth also seems to be uncertain.

In the latest whispering campaign, which is common in the Congress party, indications are that party spokesman V N Gadgil, who has been around since Rajiv Gandhi's time, will be replaced by a Sonia loyalist. The candidate is said to be former Union minister Margaret Alva who recently lost the Lok Sabha election in Karnataka.

Also finding prominence in Sonia's scheme of things is Oscar Fernandes who has been a dedicated party leader from P V Narasimha Rao's time. It is learnt that Fernandes will find an important post in the Congress hierarchy.

Former Union minister Matang Singh, who has been alleging that Sonia is trying to create her own Christian mafia in the Congress, may also get the axe. However, Matang Singh's tirade against the Congress chief stems from the fact that he has 'already made a deal with the Bharatiya Janata Party' and may shortly join that party.

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