New Delhi, Apr 30 (IANS): After the revolt by Jyotiraditya Scindia and subsequent fall of the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, Sonia Gandhi, here on Thursday, appointed Mukul Wasnik as in-charge of the state, replacing Deepak Babaria.

In a communique, released by K.C. Venugopal, the party said the Congress president had accepted the resignation of Babaria and appointed Wasnik as in-charge. Wasnik would continue to discharge his current responsibility, it added.

The move is also seen as part of preparations for the by-elections and synchronisation of the state party machinery.

The Congress was found off guard when Scindia supporting MLAs rebelled and lodged themselves in Bengaluru, which led to the collapse of the Kamal Nath government.

Babaria had been assigned by Sonia Gandhi to resolve issues relating to Scindia, but he failed to apprise the central leadership of the brewing crisis on time.

Babaria was hand-picked by Rahul Gandhi after replacing B.K. Hariprasad to oversee the state party affairs and was successful in ousting the BJP government of 15 years in the elections.