The status of Chongqing may be affected by the death of Deng Xiaoping who advocated vesting increased economic power in the city, Beijing political sources say.
The National People's Congress, which opens tomorrow, will start deliberations on whether the hub of southwestern China will be elevated to the status of a directly administered city like Shanghai, Beijing or Tianjin.
The sources said while the motion would probably be passed, Chongqing would not become as important as anticipated.
They said Deng was a principal backer of the idea of upgrading Chongqing, which would oversee development of the region comprising the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet, Guangxi and Guizhou. Under Deng's scheme, the party boss of Chongqing would have Politburo status.
Sichuan sources said that traditionally the Chongqing administration had the 'special responsibility' of looking after the development of Deng's native county of Guang'an, a few hours' drive away.
Xiao Yang , a former Chongqing party secretary and crony of the Deng household, fulfilled the mission with distinction.
The sources said after Deng's death, it was unlikely the leadership would offer a Politburo seat to the city's leader.