NEW DELHI, Mar 2 (TOI / Agencies) : The Congress on Monday carried out a major reshuffle appointing new chiefs in five states and one regional Congress committee president.
The reshuffle had a clear imprint of Rahul Gandhi, who is likely to be elevated as party president at the AICC session next month.
Ajay Maken was handed over the state leadership in Delhi, Ashok Chavan in Maharashtra, Ghulam Ahmed Mir in Jammu & Kashmir, Bharatsinh Solanki in Gujarat and Uttam Reddy in Telangana.
AICC secretary Sanjay Nirupam has been made the chief of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee.
Outlining his priorities for the party, Ajay Maken said, "My first role is to strengthen party and second is to play the role of an effective and vigilant opposition."
The new Delhi Congress chief said that former chief minister Sheila Dikshit will be given full respect and he will seek her guidance.
Uttam Reddy, who has been appointed as Telangana Congress chief, thanked Sonia and Rahul for placing their confidence in him.
The changes in the states were due for long and Rahul Gandhi was particularly keen to have new PCC chiefs in these states.
Indications had it that he had to push hard for changes in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
The changes come at a time when Rahul Gandhi's two-week sabbatical, in the midst of the crucial Budget session, is nearing an end. Party sources said that Rahul will be back soon.
"Congress President Sonia Gandhi has appointed five new Pradesh Congress Committee presidents and one regional Congress committee president," party general secretary Organization Janardan Dwivedi said giving the names in an AICC release.
In addition, Mallu Bhati Virkamarka, an MLA has been appointed as working president for Telangana.
The new Telangana PCC chief Reddy replaces incumbent state chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah, who was appointed only in March last year. Reddy was then made working president.
While Chavan replaces Manikrao Thakre, Ghulam Ahmed Mir replaces Saifuddin Soz in Jammu & Kashmir.
Bharatsinh Solanki, who replaced Arjun Modhwadia as PCC Chief in Gujarat is a former Union minister and son of former chief minister Madhavsinh Solanki. This is his second stint as PCC chief. He had held the post five years ago.
"I welcome the appointments made by Congress president Sonia Gandhi ... I also thank her for giving me the opportunity to serve as the state party head for seven years," Manikrao Thakre said on his replacement.