Reshuffle in Karnataka Congress as Rahul Gandhi appoints new KPCC President. Here's who it is

Congress President Rahul Gandhi has announced a reshuffle at the top of the party's ranks in Karnataka.

In a press release that has been issued by senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Dinesh Gundurao has been appointed as the new President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

Gundurao takes over from G Parameshwara who is now the deputy chief minister of Karnataka in the HD Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-Congress government and had been at the helm of the KPCC for eight years.

Dinesh Gundurao, the son of former Karnataka CM R Gundurao, is a 5-time MLA from the Gandhinagar assembly constituency in Bengaluru. Until his elevation to KPCC President, he was the Working President of the Congress in the state.

Meanwhile, Easwar Khandre has been appointed as the Working President of the KPCC.

Here is the full statement issued by the Congress:

Honourable Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi has appointed Shri Dinesh Gundurao as President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. He has also appointed Shri Easwar Khandre as Working President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress COmmittee.

The Congress party appreciates the hard work done by Shri G Parameshwara who successfully led the party for last 8 years and is stepping down from his responsibility as Karnataka PCC President.

Ashok Gehlot

The Congress had been drastically reduced in the recent Karnataka Assembly elections as the BJP emerged as the single largest party but fell short of achieving a majority in the assembly. The Congress then extended its support to the JD(S) to form a government in the state as together, the two parties appeared to have the required numbers. However, it was the BJP's Yeddyurappa who was sworn in as chief minister first but had to resign just before a floor test was to be held, presumably as he didn't have the required numbers. Following this, HD Kumaraswamy was invited to form a government and was successful in proving his majority.