CONGRESS: THE NEXT ROUND OF ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS & THE NEXT CHALLENGE

Madhya Pradesh: Though one leadership challenge is settled with Kamal Nath being named to head the MP unit of the Congress, there are several outstanding questions. Will other factions cooperate with him. And what about Digvijay Singh, the other big Congress leader in the state?

Chhattisgarh: Rahul Gandhi has to decide whether to do a deal with Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi), the party floated by former Congressman Ajit Jogi; or fight on two fronts with BJP on the one hand and Jogi on the other. The Congress lost to the BJP by a very narrow vote-share in the 2013 assembly elections. If it makes a mistake this time, it will be seizing defeat from the jaws of victory.

Rajasthan: The issue of leadership is settled – it will be Sachin Pilot who will head the party and lead it into victory, the central Congress hopes and believes. But the state unit is a sea of sharks.

There is CP Joshi, the man who posited himself as a rival to Ashok Gehlot. There is Gehlot himself, the man who has been union minister, Chief Minister and continues to command a following in the state; and there are sundry leaders in pockets like Bhanwar Jitendra Singh of Alwar. Will supporters of all these leaders side with Pilot?

Sikkim: After parting ways with the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), earlier in February, the former Indian football team's Captain Baichung Bhutia has announced a new political party. The Congress will have to rework its strategy. His front is expected to have Dilip Rai and the first IAS from Sikkim, Megha Nidhi Dahal, as its leaders. This will pose a challenge to Sikkim Democratic Front chief and Chief Minister for five terms, Pawan Chamling, especially if Bhutia decides to join up with the Congress in Sikkim.