New Delhi, June 7: The Congress high command is deeply worried about the state of affairs of its Bihar unit though electoral compulsions of the so-called secular outfits may have accorded it some importance.

While the dominant view is that it is too late for a change of guard, the party is thinking of some corrective measures.

That party veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad was sent to Patna to make an objective assessment was a clear signal, sources said, that the general secretary in charge, C.P. Joshi, was not being trusted fully.

Although the official reason for Azad's trip was Joshi's engagement in Bengal for Rahul Gandhi's recent visit, the sources said piles of complaints against him from state leaders forced the high command to seek an alternative view.

The supporters and detractors of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Ashok Chowdhary fought in front of Azad today, but Joshi had faced an uglier scene at a meeting some days ago.

Many senior leaders had challenged his political wisdom, bluntly accusing him of bias, ignorance and arrogance, while several, including Dr Jyoti, Chandan Bagchi and Padmasha Jha, used abusive language.

Some supporters of the PCC chief, who is firmly aligned with the general secretary, wrote to Sonia Gandhi seeking action against these leaders for indiscipline. But the high command chose to get an independent assessment.

While a majority of the Bihar leaders have complained to Sonia and Rahul against Joshi's alleged apathy to the affairs of the state, they have also repeatedly registered their protest against Chowdhary.

These leaders have tried to convince both Sonia and Rahul that the state unit needed a change in leadership but the timing appears to have saved the incumbent chief for now. Elections are due in Bihar later this year.

In fact, Rahul's visit to Bihar has been delayed so long only because of internal dissentions as the high command was aware of the serious reservations about both Joshi and Chowdhary. Last year, all the district presidents of Bihar had come to Delhi to demand a change of leadership in the state.