Kharge made Cong in-charge of Maha

Congress president Rahul Gandhi today made some key appointments in several states with Mallikarjun Kharge made the AICC general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra affairs.

Kharge is the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha and replaces Mohan Prakash, who ceases to be a party general secretary after almost a decade.

After Kharge's new appointment, there is speculation within the party over his continuation as Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha and who would be entrusted with the key responsibility in his place in that case.

Kharge is also the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), an important committee of Parliament that looks into public audits, including those of the CAG and issues a report of its findings subsequent to a government budget audit.

The Congress also appointed three AICC secretaries for Maharashtra. A statement from AICC general secretary organisation Ashok Gehlot said these include Sonal Patel from Gujarat, Ashish Dua from Haryana and Sampath Kumar from Telangana.

Gandhi also appointed former Congress Seva Dal chief Mahendra Joshi and former union minister J D Seelam as AICC secretaries attached with the general secretary, organisation.

He also appointed Shashi Kant Sharma as AICC joint secretary attached with the general secretary, in-charge of Organisation.

In another statement, Gehlot said the Congress chief has also appointed Christopher Tilak from Tamil Nadu and C D Meyyappan from Tamil Nadu as AICC secretaries for Andhra Pradesh with immediate effect.

"The party appreciates the hardwork and contribution of Mohan Prakash who will be stepping down from his responsibilities as the general secretary and AICC in-charge of Maharashtra, Gehlot said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Prakash said he was ready for any role given to him in the party.

The Congress party also appreciated the contribution of outgoing AICC secretaries for Maharashtra -- Shyoraj Jivan Valmiki and Bala Bachchan who will be stepping down from their posts, the statement said.

The appointments are seen as a bid to strengthen the party ahead of assembly elections in some key states later this year and next year's general elections. The Congress is seeking to upstage the BJP with the support of opposition parties.