The appointment of Rajya Sabha MP Raj Babbar as UPCC chief replacing Nirmal Khatri was met with enthisiastic response from Congress leaders and supporters in lucknow.
Jubiliant Congress workers hailed the appointment of Raj Babbar by distributing sweets and raising slogans in favour of him and other leaders at UPCC headquarters at Mall Avenue on Tuesday evening.
The new move is however an indicator that the Congress will have no truck with the ruling Samajwadi Party with whom the new incumbent has a love-hate relationship.
Babbar is presently Rajya Sabha member from Uttarakhand and his elevation to the top party post in UP, was announced by AICC general secretary and UP in-charge Gulam Nabi Azad in New Delhi on Tuesday.
A former SP leader, Raj Babbar had defeated Dimple Yadav from Ferozabad lok Sabha seat in a by-elections earlier.
But for Khatri detractors, the party has somewhat bveen spoilt as the former UPCC chief has been appointed as head of the screening committee ahead of the Assembly polls.
Four vice-presidents Imran Masood, Raja Ram Pal, Bhagwati Prasad Choudhury and Rajesh Mishra. representing four regions of UP have also been appointed giving due weightage to the caste factor. Poll strategist Prashant Kishor aka `PK’ has suggested that a caste equation balance be made for the new team which will lead UP Congress into the polls for a making a comeback.
Imran Masood from west UP represents the Muslim community while former MP, Raja Ram Pal is a Backward leader and Bhagwati Prasad Chaudhury is Chairman of UP Congress SC Committee. Former MP from Varanasi Rajesh Mishra represents the Brahmin.
Thus, the Congress committee now has a Punjabi face as president, besides the four vice-presidents represent Muslim, Brahmin, Backward and Dalits.
If the party brass heeds to PK's suggestion, then the CM face or Chairman of campaign committee will be a Brahmin leader. Former Delhi CM Sheila Dixit remains a favourite in this run.