New PCC chief for Chhatisgarh

By Our Correspondent

RAIPUR, JUNE 2. Setting aside all speculations, the Congress today nominated Mr. Ramanuj Lal Yadav, as the first president of the Chhatisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee. Mr. Yadav, who had unsuccessfully contested municipal elections from Durg twice, is a close associate of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) treasurer, Mr. Moti Lal Vora.

The prestigious post was being looked after by the State Chief Minister, Mr. Ajit Jogi, until now. In the race for the post were the State Welfare Minister, Ms. Geeta Devi Singh, who was being backed by Mr. Jogi. Mr. Jogi's political opponent, Mr. Vidya Charan Shukla, had been promised the post in November following which he had reportedly withdrawn his candidature for the post of the Chief Minister.

A low profile, Mr. Ramanuj Lal Yadav, was the chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation in the undivided M.P. during the Chief Ministership of Mr. Vora. Both of them are from the Durg district of Chhatisgarh. His name had also been seconded by the former M.P. Chief Minister, Mr. Shyama Charan Shukla. The appointment is being seen as a major setback for Mr. V. C. Shukla who claimed to have been promised the post by the AICC leaders, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Ms. Prabha Rao in November last when Mr. Jogi was made the first Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh. However, Mr. Yadav's name is reported to have been cleared by the AICC president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi.

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