By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress Tuesday formally appointed former Union minister Virbhadra Singh as its state unit chief in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh.
It also appointed Commerce Minister Anand Sharma as chairman of the campaign committee in place of Virbhadra Singh.
A statement issued by the party here Tuesday said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had accepted resignation of Kaul Singh as president of Himachal Pradesh Congress and Virbhadra Singh had been appointed Himachal Pradesh Congress chief with immediate effect.
State legislator Anil Sharma has been made co-convenor of the campaign committtee.
Senior party leaders had told the media Sunday that a decision has been taken by party president Sonia Gandhi to appoint Virbhadra Singh as the state unit chief.
A five time chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, he is regarded in party circles as a leader with state-wide following and an ability to draw crowds.
Virbhadra Singh, 78, had been unhappy over the composition of some poll related panels in the state and wanted a greater say in ticket distribution.
Party leaders have hopes that the changes will bring more cohesion to the party’s state unit and draw enthusiastic participation of all leaders.
Virbhadra Singh had resigned as micro, small and medium enterprises minister in June in the wake of a Shimla court order in a 23-year-old corruption case.