Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury attended a meeting of the Congress’s state presidents and minders in New Delhi on Tuesday at the invitation of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, fuelling speculation that the former Baharampur MP might be reappointed as the party’s Bengal chief.

The post of the Congress’s state chief became vacant after Chowdhury offered to step down and the party’s high command accepted his resignation. Chowdhury publicly expressed displeasure at the way Congress president Kharge accepted his resignation.

Besides Chowdhury, another Bengal Congress leader Deepa Dasmunsi — the party’s minder for Telangana — was also invited by the high command to the key meeting to discuss organisational matters and preparedness for the Assembly elections in four states and a Union Territory before February next year. Various national issues were also discussed at the meeting.

Bhupesh Baghel, Ajay Maken, Sachin Pilot, D.K. Shivakumar, and Jairam Ramesh were among the Congress leaders present at the meeting.

Sources close to Chowdhury, who is still in Delhi, said he would address a news conference in Calcutta on Wednesday when he would likely announce theparty’s plans.

The sources said there were strong indications that Chowdhury would again be asked to lead the partyin Bengal.

“He (Chowdhry) had a thorough, positive discussion during the one-on-one with Rahul Gandhi last week. After that, his invitation to today’s meeting is very significant. In the present political situation, he is the best man to lead the Congress in the state,” said a Congress leader, known for his proximity to Chowdhury.

Following the meeting with Rahul — the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha — on Thursday, Chowdhury said he was encouraged to work more extensively across Bengal and address the party’s local needs.

Describing the meeting as “fruitful, positive”, the former five-term MP quoted Rahul as saying: “Victory or defeat is an inevitable outcome of every fight. One mustn’t let it dishearten (them).”

Chowdhury’s staunch resistance to the Congress allying with the Trinamool Congress in Bengal and push for a tie-up with the Left seemed to have prompted Mamata Banerjee to go solo in thegeneral election.

“If the Congress high command picks him (Chowdhury) to fill the vacancy created by his departure, the party will again be shutting the door on peace with Mamata in Bengal. That could be a strategic move — discord here, amity there (in Delhi),” said a Congress leader who isn’t fond of Chowdhury. “But reappointing him again will not help the party move forward here.”