A veteran and moderate leader from western Maharashtra, Balasaheb Thorat will soon take over as the president of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. A formal announcement will be made in a day or two.
This is necessitated following the resignation by the incumbent president Ashok Chavan who had lost the Lok Sabha election in his home turf Nanded to BJP nominee Pratap Chikhalikar.
Thorat was recently appointed as the leader of the legislature party leader after the resignation of Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil who joined BJP. Thorat, who had represented Agriculture and Revenue portfolios when the UPA-led government was in power, is facing a huge challenge to revive the faction-ridden party and put up a united face in the ensuing assembly elections slated for October.
Thorat told DNA, "We have too little time in hand, but all efforts will be made to take on BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the state." He, however, declined to reveal the details to rejuvenate and strengthen the booth level organisation ahead of assembly election.
The party is also likely to appoint three executive presidents along with Thorat, representing other communities. This aims to give a message of inclusiveness.