WATCH: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel tears up while handing over the reins of CPCC to Mohan Markam

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's eyes were filled with tears while speaking at the event organised in Raipur for passing the post of President of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) to Mohan Markam.

Congress leader PL Punia and newly appointed CPCC president Mohan Markam were also present at the event held on Saturday. In his speech, Bhupesh Baghel thanked all party leaders who worked with him over the past five years and remembered their contribution to the party in Chhattisgarh.

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"I was appointed to the post by Rahul Gandhiji after we lost the elections in 2013. 2014 Lok Sabha elections were near. We were worried about the party's prospects in the state after the 2014 elections. The fight we party leaders started after June 2014 continued till the time we came to power in Chhattisgarh," Baghel said.

He praised the newly appointed CPCC President by saying Mohan Markam was a hardworking and simple man.

READ: Rahul Gandhi Appoints Legislator Mohan Markam As Head Of The Congress Chhattisgarh Unit, Replaces CM Bhupesh Baghel

Earlier, Markam was appointed the president of CPCC through an All India Congress Committee (AICC) release signed by party general secretary KC Venugopal on June 28.
He replaced Baghel who had been the CPCC president since 2014 and was asked to continue in the post till his replacement was announced after he became the Chief Minister in December last year.

Kondagaon MLA Mohan Markam succeeded Bhupesh 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.

(With ANI inputs)