New Delhi: Ajay Singh, son of late
Congress leader Arjun Singh, has been named Legislature Party
Leader for Madhya Pradesh, a post which was lying vacant for
over six months since the death of Jamuna Devi.
Singh, a five-time MLA from Sidhi assembly seat, had
been a strong contender for the post of CLP Leader along with
the party`s Deputy Leader in the state assembly Rakesh
Chaudhury.
A four-time MLA, Choudhury was appointed as the acting
CLP Leader in Madhya Pradesh in November last year after the
death of Jamuna Devi, 81, at an Indore hospital on September
24.
Singh`s appointment comes just days after Union
Minister Kantilal Bhuria was named PCC chief for the state
replacing Suresh Pachauri.
Since Bhuria belongs to the tribal community, the CLP
leader had to be either from the Thakur or Brahmin community
and hence names of both Singh and Chaudhary were doing the
rounds for the post.
The Congress is hoping that appointment of Bhuria and
Singh will revive the faction-ridden organisation in the
state, which is under BJP rule for nearly eight years.
While Bhuria is a close associate of AICC general
secretary and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay
Singh, Ajay Singh had also served as a minister in his
government.
A senior leader in the party said that the Congress
would "honour" the legacy of Arjun Singh.
The veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister,
who had served in various capacities including as Madhya
Pradesh Chief Minister, died last month.
PTI
