Political jockeying for Chongqing's top Communist Party post appeared to have delayed the mega-city's party congress until next month, local sources said yesterday, following official confirmation of the abrupt postponement.
Both Shandong party chief Jiang Yikang and his Hunan counterpart Zhou Qiang have been discussed as possible contenders for the powerful post held by Bo Xilai until national authorities removed him on March 15 amid a far-reaching political scandal involving the murder of a British businessman.
Since Bo's removal, the top post in the southwestern metropolis of nearly 30 million has been occupied by Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang . Zhang's Chongqing role has been widely seen as transitional. It was expected that whoever took over from him would make an appearance at the end of the party congress.
The event, initially due to be held later this month, would now be held in mid-June, said a source close to the Chongqing government.
The source said the delay came amid intense wrangling between members of various factions for the top post, which could also mean a spot on the Politburo for the appointee.
'How can the congress be kicked off when ... the new party secretary has not yet been decided?' the source said.
Regional authorities across the mainland are holding similar organisational meetings in preparation for a generational leadership change in Beijing in the autumn. Guangdong, Guizhou , Shaanxi , Hainan , Jilin , Heilongjiang and Gansu have already finished their party congresses, while others are now ongoing or expected to start in coming days. The Chongqing congress is particularly important as it will decide who will lead the city's top decision-making organ, the municipal party committee, following Bo's spectacular downfall.