New Delhi, July 16: Former Gujarat chief minister Shankar Sinh Vaghela was today appointed president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee replacing Amar Sinh Chaudhary who has been made Congress Legislature Party leader. Vaghela, a former BJP leader with Sangh Parivar links, had joined Congress after being chief minister of a short lived government supported by Congress and Janata Dal after he rebelled against the BJP leadership in 1997.

A backward caste leader, Vaghela is expected to lead the party in the assembly elections in the state.

The appointment made by party president Sonia Gandhi would be with immediate effect, party spokesman Anand Sharma told a news agency.

Sharma said Chaudhary, who had earlier resigned as GPCC president, has expressed happiness over his appointment as CLP leader.


Bureau Report