New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 20 (IANS): Newly appointed Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President Mullappally Ramachandran said on Thursday that the new responsibility is a challenge.

He was appointed president of the Kerala unit of the party by Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. Ramachandran replaced senior party leader M.M.Hassan who was holding the post since February 2017.

"Certainly this is a challenge and I will do my best," said Ramachandran told the media at his Delhi residence.

The 73-year-old leader is a seven-time Lok Sabha member and has been a Union Minister of State for Home.

For the past two terms since 2009, he has represented the Vadakara parliamentary constituency in Kozhikode district.

Ramachandran is one of the present line of Congress leaders who rose from the ranks from the Kerala Students Union -- the students wing of the Congress.

Along with Ramachandran, three senior working presidents were also named -- K.Sudhakaran, a former state minister and former Lok Sabha member, Kodikunnil Suresh, a sitting Lok Sabha member, and M.I.Shahnawaz, a former Union Minister of State.

The factors that weighed in favour of Ramachandran were his being a long-time loyalist of former Defence Minister A.K.Antony and being acceptable to major factions in the party. Besides, he hails from the powerful Hindu Ezhava community.

On Thursday, Ramachandran called on Antony, who wished him all success.

K. Muraleedharan has been appointed chairman of the state campaign committee, while Benny Behanan is the new convenor of the Congress-led United Democratic Front.