Rahul names Sadanand Singh as CLP leader

Senior Bihar Congress leader Sadanand Singh, left out of the Grand Alliance ministry headed by Nitish Kumar, was today named CLP leader by Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
Gandhi, who was here to attend the swearing-in ceremony, announced Singh's name as Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader at a function at state Congress headquarter Sadaquat Ashram.
Sadanand Singh, ninth term MLA from Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district, was considered a sure shot in the new Bihar cabinet but his name was not there among those who took oath.
Gandhi went to Sadaquat Ashram after the swearing-in and announced the new CLP leader's name but Singh and state Congress spokesman Binod Yadav could not reach there due to a traffic jam.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, former minister Subodh Kant Sahay and cine-star Nagma were present on the occasion.
When asked by PTI whether he was happy being the CLP leader and not a minister, Singh did not give a categorical answer and merely said as a disciplined worker of the party he would perform whatever responsibility was entrusted to him.

Binod Yadav said Gandhi in his brief speech told Congress workers and leaders that all the three constituents of Grand Alliance - JD(U), RJD and Congress have important roles in its victory in Bihar and reminded them of responsibility given to them by the people.

He told the four ministers from the party who took oath today to serve people of the state sincerely and to ensure that the party workers do not feel alienated.
Bihar PCC chief and MLC Ashok Choudhary, besides Congress leaders Madan Mohan Jha, Abdul Jalil Mastan and Awdesh Kumar Singh found their place in the newly constituted Nitish Kumar cabinet.
Congress has 27 members in the new Bihar House of 243 members.