'Replaced' Digvijaya is 'happy' with Rahul picking new team for Goa, Karnataka

Hours after the Congress on Saturday replaced office bearers in charge of party units in Goa and Karnataka, senior leader Digvijaya Singh, who was replaced by A. Chella Kumar as the party in-charge of Goa, said he was happy that the new team was picked by party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

"I am happy finally new team is being picked up by Rahul ji. I enjoyed working with Congress leaders and workers in Goa and Karnataka. Convey my gratitude for all their support. I am loyal to the party and Nehru Gandhi family. I also owe my position to the party and to them," tweeted Digvijaya Singh.

Earlier in the day, as per the statement issued by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) member Janardhan Dwivedi, it was announced that A. Chella Kumar has been made in-charge of Congress matters in Goa, replacing veteran leader Digvijaya Singh. It was also announced that Amit Deshmukh has been appointed as the Secretary, AICC in the state.

In Karnataka, K.C. Venugopal has been made general secretary in charge of party affairs. He will be assisted by four AICC secretaries namely Manickam Tagore, P.C. Vishnunadh, Madhu Yashki Goud and Dr. Sake Sailjanath. The four candidates have been handpicked by Rahul Gandhi.

The development follows the grand old party's dismal show in Goa and Manipur assembly elections in Goa, where the Congress, led by Digvijaya, failed to form the government in the state despite winning the majority in the assembly.

Several leaders within the Goa Congress blamed Singh for the debacle.

Last month, on March 18, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief Luizinho Faleiro blamed Digvijaya Singh for the party's inability to form a government in the state despite winning far more seats than Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

It's said that, in view of the 2019 General Elections, the grand old party has now begun working on the model of assigning one state to one leader. More changes are expected in the weeks to come.

The development also comes a year before Karnataka, which has an incumbent Congress Government, is due to hold assembly elections.