This Article is From May 28, 2011

Milind Deora, Priya Dutt likely contenders to be next Mumbai Congress chief

Mumbai: Eager to project a clean image in the aftermath of a string of scams, the Congress is likely to soon replace Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh, who is battling corruption charges.

Mr Singh's term has just expired and the party is reportedly under pressure from the city unit to not award him a second term in the wake of charges of graft against him.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has found evidence of financial transactions between Mr Singh and former Jharkhand minister Kamlesh Singh, an aide of former chief minister Madhu Koda.

Sources have told NDTV that the Congress is likely to replace Mr Singh with a young face with the names of Milind Deora, Priya Dutt and Eknath Gaikwad prominently doing the rounds as the probables.

When asked whether he had been offered the post of the Mumbai Congress chief, Mr Deora, a MP from Mumbai South, told NDTV, "If given an opportunity, I will work to the best of my ability, but at this point, I'm more than content with the responsibilities my party leader has given me".

An early decision on the successor of Mr Singh is needed as the crucial Mumbai civic elections are less than a year away.
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