Discussions agog on HPCC chief

All India Congress Committee general secretary BK Hariprasad on Sunday said that consensus was yet to be reached on the name of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president.

At present, Phool Chand Mullana is holding the post.

"Party leaders are holding discussions on the appointment of HPCC chief almost every week. The Congress wants to have a leader who should neither be a 'yes man' of chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda nor his dissident," the in charge of Haryana Congress affairs said on Sunday.

"The HPCC president should be like Mullana, who is affable to all," he said though refused to state whether Mullana would be granted the extension or there would be a new appointee.

Hariprasad categorically said the party leadership was giving priority to states that did not have the Congress rule, he said.

Meanwhile, sources in the party said some names were shortlisted, but consensus could not be reached, courtesy intra-party dissidence. Insiders said several of the ministers and MPs had sought the party presidentship.

On the expansion of the state cabinet, Hariprasad said it was Hooda's prerogative and the issue was under discussion.