Kameshwar Baitha made Trinamool Congress Jharkhand unit chief

Former MP- Kameshwar Baitha- Thursday said he has been appointed as the Jharkhand unit president of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).

He said a letter of appointment, approved by AITC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was given by one of her cabinet ministers Moloy Ghatak on Wednesday.

I have been appointed as the Jharkhand unit president of the AITC, and we are preparing to contest Jharkhand assembly elections, (due later this year), Baitha said.

The copy of the letter dated August 7 and signed by Ghatak, Minister-in-Charge Law & Judicial and Labour Departments, Government of West Bengal, was given to the media.

It says,I am pleased to appoint you as the President of the Jharkhand Pradesh Trinamool Congress Committee with immediate effectyour leadership will strengthen the hands of our beloved Mamata Banerjee, establish the dreams of the people of Jharkhand to become pioneer State in the country and also organisation of the Party in the State.

Baitha has several Naxal-related cases against him and was arrested by Sasaram police in connection with the killing of a divisional forest officer during united Bihar.

Baitha, who is on bail now, had contested Palamu Lok Sabha bypoll on Bahujan Samaj Party ticket in 2007 and lost by over 20,000 votes.

He joined the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and won the seat in 2009 by over 20,000 votes.

Baitha again lost the seat in 2014 on Trinamool Congress ticket.

Later, he joined the Congress before quitting the party and rejoining the Trinamool Congress.