The news of the appointment of the party’s Central Observer Mohan Prakash had started speculations that the Congress would make organisational changes in Maharashtra, more so because of the controversies that erupted due to cross-voting in the legislative council polls, the absence of MLAs in the floor test and the renaming of two cities by the then outgoing Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

And with Prakash set to arrive in Mumbai on Saturday on a three-day ‘inquiry’ visit, the knives are out. A section of the Congress said though the state leadership was safe, the Mumbai chief’s position was in a danger zone because the party’s MLC candidate Chandrakant Handore, who lost to cross-voting despite being the first choice, has demanded action against those responsible. In an embarrassment for the party, its first choice candidate lost but the second choice, Bhai Jagtap, won. Handore has met with Rahul Gandhi to seek disciplinary action against the responsible.