The forming of various committees ahead of the general elections for the Congress’ Maharashtra unit has put three former chief ministers and senior leaders of the party in different committees, ensuring no clashes and smooth functioning of the election campaign in the State. The move is also aimed at revitalising the senior party leadership, which has been sidelined for some time now.

Sushilkumar Shinde, Prithviraj Chavan and Ashok Chavan, the three former chief ministers, have been given responsibilities of the campaign, manifesto and election committees respectively. According to party sources, the responsibility of different committees will ensure that there is no clash of ideas and each leader can perform his duty without any interference.

“We have ensured every leader gets his due and the party will contest as a unit. Everyone will do their best to fulfill their responsibility,” said a Delhi-based party leader, who is also involved with the Maharashtra unit.

Mr. Shinde has been on the back foot, ever since his loss in the 2014 general election from Solapurconstituency. However, he will be contesting the 2019 polls and as chairman of the campaign committee, he will be travelling across the State.

Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, who was chief minister in 2014, was criticised within and outside the party over the Congress’ loss in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. He has been absent from the national scene for a while. “We will be making rational promises, which our government will fulfill, unlike the BJP,” said the leader from Delhi.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil has also been tasked with the election committee. Former MLA and former Mumbai president Kripashankar Singh has also been appointed to the committee amid speculation that he will switch to the BJP. He has recently been acquitted in a disproportionate assets case.