Cong, BJP slug it out in Jebera bypoll

If Congress wins the by-poll, due June 25, it will give the party the much needed strength to take on BJP in the 2013 Assembly elections but in case it loses then it will put question mark over the ability of the party's new leadership.

In order to revive the party's sagging morale, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has appointed Union Minister for Tribal Welfare Kantilal Bhuria as the new chief of the state unit, replacing former Union Minister Suresh Pachouri.

"This is the first test for Bhuria, Leader of Opposition, Ajay Singh and senior Congress leader Harvansh Singh among others to prove their credentials in the state," a senior Congress leader said.

"Retaining this seat will be a real test for the new team," former Union Minister and senior party leader Aslam Sher Khan said.

The Congress nominee for the by-election is 26-year-old Tanya Solomon, daughter of Ratnesh Solomon whose death caused the election.

After the Congress's poor show in the last Assembly polls and various by-polls in which BJP wrested Kukshi and Sonkatch seats from the main Opposition, the Congress high command has appointed new leaders at the instance of former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh to revive the party in MP.