Shinde emerges frontrunner for LS leader's post

With the monsoon session is set to begin on August 8, the immediate task before the Congress leadership is to appoint the leader of the House in the Lok Sabha, a post that was held by Pranab Mukherjee till his nomination as the UPA’s presidential candidate.

With the monsoon session is set to begin on August 8, the immediate task before the Congress leadership is to appoint the leader of the House in the Lok Sabha, a post that was held by Pranab Mukherjee till his nomination as the UPA’s presidential candidate.

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His replacement, sources said, was likely to be finalised before the vice-presidential polls on August 7. Ministers Sushil Kumar Shinde and Jaipal Reddy have emerged as strong contenders for the post. Home minister P Chidambaram’s name is also doing the rounds. But Shinde, a prominent Dalit face and a former Maharashtra CM, has an edge over others.

As many as 10 Congress MPs had written to party chief Sonia Gandhi, requesting her to appoint Rahul Gandhi on the post. However, majority of Congress leaders want him to take up the organisational work.

Meanwhile, the NCP is demanding a “better portfolio” for Praful Patel or Rajya Sabha deputy chairman’s post for Tariq Anwar. Agatha Sangma, who had submitted her resignation from the council of ministers to Sharad Pawar, may face the axe for campaigning for father PA Sangma in the presidential poll.