Guj Cong legislators to meet today to select new leader

Ahmedabad: A meeting of 59 newly-elected MLAs in Gujarat will be held on Tuesday to select the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader in the presence of two central party observers including Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

"A meeting of newly elected party legislators will be held tomorrow am in Gandhinagar to name the CLP leader under the chairmanship of state party president Arjun Modhwadia," state Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said.

Dikshit and Gujarat in-charge Mohan Prakash will be the central observers to conduct the selection procedure of the new CLP leader. As announced earlier, the first session of the newly constituted State Assembly will be held on January 23 and on Tuesday 180 legislators will take oath as the new members of the House. Two seats have fallen vacant after the declaration of results on December 20, 2012.

Congress MLA from Morva Hadaf, Panchmahal district Savita Khant has passed away and another Congress MLA from Limbadi Soma Patel has resigned to retain his Lok Sabha seat reducing the Congress seat tally to 59.

"During the CLP meeting observers will gather all suggestions from the members on the name of new CLP leader, following which a resolution will be passed by all the members giving authority to Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to select new CLP leader," said Doshi.

"Observers, then will consult party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi over the phone and as per her advise the name of new CLP leader will be announced," he added.

Since the declaration of Assembly elections and defeat of many state party stalwarts like Modhwadia, former CLP leader Shaktisingh Gohil and former state party president Siddharth Patel selection of the new CLP leader has involved in fierce lobbying in the party.

Senior state leaders like Vitthal Radadia, who had quit from his Lok Sabha seat when he won Assembly seat from Dhoraji, openly staked his claim for the post of CLP leader.

After senior leader Mohansinh Rathwa, name of former Chief Minister Shankarshingh Vaghela has also been mentioned as one of the strong contenders for the post.