The confirmation of Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu's death in a copter crash has triggered a hunt for his successor.
The All India Congress Committee had rushed two representatives to Itanagar a day after Khandu's chopper disappeared. The idea was to avoid bickering within the party.
The party is yet to take a name the new chief minister but insiders said five names have been doing the rounds. They are home minister Tako Dabi, finance minister Setong Sena, PCC chief and PWD minister Nabam Tuki, power minister Jarbom Gamlin and Rajya Sabha MP and former chief minister Mukut Mithi.
"It is likely to be a toss between Gamlin and Mithi, who have been loyal to the Congress even during phases when all the others switched over to other parties including the BJP," said a senior PCC leader.
He added Khandu's successor is likely to be named after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi are scheduled to reach Itanagar on Friday.