Others like Priya Dutt and Milind Deora, known to be close to Rahul Gandhi, and Amarjit Singh Manhas from Gurudas Kamaths camp are also in the running to replace Singh

CHAITANYA MARPAKWAR Mumbai

With Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singhs resignation accepted by the Party High Command, the race is on for his replacement as MRCC chief. Though many aspirants are in the race, with the party looking for a Maharashtrian face keeping in mind the BMC poll results and the 2014 assembly elections, MP from Mumbai south central Eknath Gaikwad and former minister Chandrakant Handore are front- runners for the post.

However, with the party focussed on the UP polls, a decision on Mumbai is likely to be taken only after the UP results in March. " Looking at the results of the BMC polls the party needs a Maharashtrian face in Mumbai.

Gaikwad and Handore also belong to the Dalit community, which will help the party to counter the Athavale factor," said a Congress functionary.

However, according to sources, MP from Mumbai North Central Priya Dutt is a strong contender for the post, while members of the Deora camp in South Mumbai - including MLA Madhu Chavan and Kisan Jadhav - are also being considered. Union minister of state Milind Deora known to be close to Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi too could replace Kripa as a young face and Amarjit Singh Manhas from Gurudas Kamaths camp is also in the running to replace Singh.

" If at all the high command decides to make changes in Mumbai and Maharashtra it will be after the UP polls," said Congress spokesperson Anant Gadgil.

Earlier, Kripashankar Singh finally resigned from his post following the Bombay High Court order to prosecute him in corruption and disproportionate assets cases.

Singhs resignation came shortly after the courts ruling.

It is learnt that the party high command has accepted Singhs resignation but Congress managers in Delhi have spun the story stating that Kripa has resigned owing moral responsibility for the Congress'defeat in the BMC polls.

However, even a week after the Congress'embarrassing defeat in the BMC polls, there were reports that Kripa was making all efforts to cling on to his chair. In his explanation to the party high command, Kripa had blamed infighting and his rivals for the partys dismal performance.

" His resignation has been accepted by the party high command. Kripa had offered to resign on February 17, after the BMC polls debacle. The high command has accepted his resignation offered for the poor show in the BMC polls," AICC general secretary in- charge of Maharashtra Mohan Prakash said. However when asked about Kripa facing the axe, Prakash had said last week that a decision would only be taken when the party 'sits to do an analysis of the poll results'. Though there was buzz on Kripas ouster after the BMC polls, the party was expected to take a call on an organisational reshuffle in Mumbai only after the UP polls. However, the Bombay HC hitting out at Kripa and passing strictures against him hastened the process forcing Kripa to resign.

When Singh took over in 2008, after a stint in the Congress- NCP ministry in Maharashtra, Congress leaders hoped he would help attract north Indian voters. In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Congress won five of the six seats in Mumbai. However, in the recent municipal corporation polls, where Congress and NCP had forged a prepoll alliance, the Congress tally dwindled by thirtyodd seats.