Digvijaya, CP Joshi make way for Chandy, Gogoi in AICC rejig

Congress veterans Digvijaya Singh and C P Joshi were on Sunday divested of their responsibilities as AICC general secretaries in-charge of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, respectively, as part of Congress president Rahul Gandhi's piecemeal changes to the party organisation.

Rahul drafted Oommen Chandy, former chief minister of Kerala, for organisational work at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) by appointing him as general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh.

He appointed Gaurav Gogoi, a young leader and first-term Lok Sabha member from Assam, as AICC in-charge of West Bengal.

Gaurav, son of former chief minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi, will also oversee the party affairs in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Chandy's appointment marks the exit of Digvijaya Singh from the AICC.

He was recently made the chairman of the party's coordination committee for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly election, which is expected to be held by the end of the year.

Joshi's stepping down as the AICC general secretary in-charge of West Bengal also brings the curtains down on a controversial tenure marked by allegations of disinterest in organisational work.

His handling of party affairs in Bihar, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur was roundly criticised by leaders from respective states.

Last month, Joshi was divested of the charge of Bihar, where Rahul brought in Gujarat leader Shaktisinh Gohil.

The Congress is also expected to announce new AICC in-charges for the north-eastern states, which continue to be under Joshi's watch.

"The party appreciates the hard work and contribution of Shri Digvijaya Singh, who will be stepping down from his responsibility as AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, statement from party general secretary," AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot said in a statement here.