Will work towards strengthening part before 2019 LS polls: Gehlot

Newly-appointed AICC general secretary in-charge for organisation and training Ashok Gehlot today said he would work towards strengthening the Congress before the 2019 General Elections.

The former Rajasthan chief minister yesterday replaced Congress veteran Janardan Dwivedi for the post.

Gehlot also said that he was given the new responsibility because of his loyalty towards the party and Congress president Rahul Gandhi's trust in him.

"I would do everything possible to rise to his (Gandhi) expectation," he told reporters here.

The Congress leader arrived in Jodhpur yesterday to condole the death of his close friend Jawahar Surana.

Surana, a senior Rajasthan Congress functionary, died yesterday at a private hospital from prolonged illness.

Terming his new role in the party a "huge responsibility", Gehlot said, "I would do my best to meet the party's expectations. I have always treated myself as a simple worker of the party regardless of the responsibilities and have always tried to put in my best."