Regional Aspirants Digvijay Singh, 50: Young Blood
STRENGTHS: Has established a base of his own in Madhya
Pradesh after four years in office; is passionately anti-BJP.
WEAKNESSES: Lost ground since 1996 and Kamal Nath's
defeat in Chhindwara; has alienated the tribal vote bank.
 Virbhadra Singh, 63: Apple Man
STRENGTHS: Has blunted the BJP challenge in Himachal
Pradesh; non-controversial; liked by all in the party.
WEAKNESSES: Himachal Pradesh sends just four MPs to the
Lok Sabha; is therefore a marginal player nationally.
 Vijayabhaskara Reddy, 77: Telugu Boss
STRENGTHS: Archetypal regional chieftain who appeals to
those Congressmen who want to truck with the UF.
WEAKNESSES: The Congress does not enjoy power in Andhra
Pradesh; is not seen as prime ministerial material.
 A K Antony, 57: Saintly Aura
STRENGTHS: Doughty radical and completely incorruptible. A
feeling that the post of AICC president is rightfully his.
WEAKNESSES: Is indecisive in intra-party matters; guided
by regional considerations; has linguistic limitations.
 J B Patnaik, 70: Scholarly Touch
STRENGTHS: Has consolidated the Congress' hold in Orissa;
enjoys a reputation as an able administrator.
WEAKNESSES: Was associated closely with Narasimha Rao; has
never taken great interest in national politics.
 Ahmed Patel, 48: Rajiv Boy Made Good
STRENGTHS: Clean and upright image; has age on his side;
will play an important role during elections as treasurer.
WEAKNESSES: Has very little mass appeal; his agenda for
Gujarat has not found favour with Congress president Kesri.
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