Congress appoints Rajendra Pal Gautam, Sanjay Dutt as AICC in-charge for UP, Haryana

Congress leaders Rajendra Pal Gautam. Photo: AICC via ANI

 Gautam replaces Avinash Pande in Uttar Pradesh, while Dutt replaces senior party leader Hariprasad in Haryana

The party also appointed Lalji Desai as the new AICC in-charge for Odisha, replacing Ajay Kumar Lallu, it said in a statement.

“The party appreciates the contributions of the outgoing general secretary/in-charges – Avinash Pande, B K Hariprasad and Ajay Kumar Lallu,” AICC general secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal said in the statement.

Sanjay Dutt is currently serving as an All India Congress Committee Secretary. File

In another statement, the Congress announced the appointment of B.V. Srinivas as the new chief organiser of the Congress Seva Dal, replacing Lalji Desai, with immediate effect.

The Haryana appointment assumes significance as the Congress looks to build on its improved performance in the state and sharpen its preparations for future electoral contests against the BJP. The party had emerged as a stronger opposition force in the state in recent years and views Haryana as one of the few northern states where it sees realistic prospects of returning to power.

The changes in Odisha and Uttar Pradesh are also being seen as part of the Congress’ continuing effort to strengthen its organisational structure and revive its political fortunes in states where it has struggled to regain lost ground.