Advertisement

Updated June 28th, 2019 at 22:09 IST

Rahul Gandhi appoints legislator Mohan Markam as head of the Congress Chhattisgarh unit, replaces CM Bhupesh Baghel

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday appointed Mohan Markam as the head of the party's Chhattisgarh unit, replacing Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

| Image:self
Advertisement

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday appointed Mohan Markam as the head of the party's Chhattisgarh unit, replacing Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

Significantly, the AICC press statement naming Markam as the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee chief said "Congress president has appointed" instead of the "AICC" that was being used in party statements effecting organisational changes since Rahul Gandhi's decision to quit as party head.

"Congress president has appointed Mohan Markam as the new president of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect. The party appreciates the contributions of outgoing PCC President Shri Bhupesh Baghel," the AICC statement signed by general secretary organisation K C Venugopal said.

Markam's elevation to the post comes at a time when the party is coming to terms with its debacle in the Lok Sabha polls in which it could win just two parliamentary seats from the state despite coming to power with a massive mandate in the December assembly poll.

 CONTROVERSIAL: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel Says That Veer Savarkar Pitched Two-nation Theory Before Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Kondagaon MLA Markam succeeds Baghel, who said last week that he has asked Rahul Gandhi to appoint someone to head the state unit as he has his hands full as the Chief Minister. Bhupesh Baghel led the party to an emphatic win in the assembly elections in December, dislodging the Raman Singh government by winning 68 out of the 90 seats that went to polls.

The appointment by Rahul Gandhi assumes significance as it comes amid uncertainty over him continuing as Congress president. He has been adamant on his decision to resign as the chief, citing accountability.

Rahul had resigned citing taking responsibility for the party's Lok Sabha poll debacle. He had conveyed his decision at the meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on May 25. The CWC, the highest decision-making body of the party, rejected his resignation and asked him to revamp and restructure the party at all levels instead.

Rahul Gandhi, in the presence of UPA chairperson and his mother Sonia Gandhi, had on Wednesday told his party's Lok Sabha members that he was no longer the Congress president as he had resigned. He had said it was up to the CWC to decide on selecting the new president.

Advertisement

Published June 28th, 2019 at 21:16 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo