Congress appoints chief for Chhattisgarh

Party to resume its Parivartan Yatra from the same place where it was held before the Naxal ambush that killed 27 people

The Congress Monday appointed Charan Das Mahant, the MP from Korba, as the new party chief in Chhattisgarh, days after its state president was killed in a Naxal attack.

Congress Chhattisgarh president Nand Kumar Patel was killed in the May 25 attack in Bastar, when Naxals ambushed the convoy carrying him and other Congerss leaders during the party's "Partivartan Yatra".

Senior tribal leader Mahendra Karma, former legislator Uday Mudaliyar and many others were also killed in the attack.

Senior Congress leader V C Shukla was critically injured, and is under treatment at a hospital in Gurgaon.

Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel was appointed programme coordinator of the state unit.

The Congress in Chhattisgarh has also decided to resume its Parivartan Yatra from the same place where it was held before the Naxals ambushed the yatra convoy, killing 27 people.

The attack occurred in the Darbha Valley in tribal Bastar district May 25.