Nancy Pelosi's knives are out for AOC as she secretly works to destroy her plan to rise in Democrat ranks

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi is reportedly working behind the scenes to put the kibosh on Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez' dream of taking a powerful Democratic House position in the new Congress. 

The 35-year-old progressive Squad member is looking to become the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, having served as vice ranking member. 

But she would have to beat out Virginia Congressman Gerry Connelly, who also launched his own bid for the top committee job.

Their face-off sets Democrats up for a generational battle between the millennial member of Congress and the 74-year-old lawmaker who has served in the House since 2009.

Pelosi may no longer be in Democatic House leadership, but she still wields immense power and has publicly backed Connolly for the position.

Behind the scenes, the 84-year-old California Democrat is reportedly even making calls on behalf of Connolly, according to a new report in Punchbowl News.

As Connolly seeks to become top Democrat on the House oversight Committee, last month he revealed days after the election that he was diagnosed with esophagus cancer. 

The congressman said he would be undergoing chemotherapy, but he was confident in a successful outcome.

AOC first signaled she was 'interested' in mounting a bid for ranking member earlier this month and said she was speaking with colleagues before formalizing her bid. 

While Democrats are in the minority again in the new year, whoever serves as ranking member on the committee could hold massive power should Democrats retake the majority in the midterms.

Retaking the House would give them the ability to subpoena Trump administration officials as they carry out investigations. 

Current House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin is vying to be the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee where its current Ranking Member Jerry Nadler is not running again.

Nadler in announcing he would not seek to remain in the top position, threw his support behind Raskin, paving the way for a smooth transition.

All 215 House members will vote on who will fill the top committee positions for the new Congress by secret ballot.

Pelosi and AOC have been doing a delicate dance since the New York progressive Congresswoman came to Washington after a surprise upset ousting a powerful Democratic incumbent in the 2018 primary. 

Ocasio-Cortez was among a group of protesters who stormed Pelosi's office urging action on climate change in October 2018.

But Pelosi has also publicly praised the high-profile young congresswoman and downplayed reports of their feud in the past.

Earlier this year, AOC offered her own praise on the former speaker for 'passing the torch' to Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.