Madhya Pradesh: Jitu Patwari is new PCC President
BHOPAL BUREAU
BHOPAL: Congress has made a major reshuffle in the party in Madhya Pradesh. After losing the assembly elections in the state, a major reshuffle has been seen in the Congress. Congress has made Jitu Patwari the new president of Madhya Pradesh State Congress Committee. He will replace former Chief Minister Kamal Nath. Congress has made tribal leader Umang Singhar the Leader of Opposition.
Congress had contested the assembly elections under the leadership of Kamal Nath in which the party had to face a major defeat.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed Jitu Patwari as the President of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect. Whereas Congress President has appointed Umang Singhar as Leader of Opposition and Hemant Katare as Deputy Leader of Opposition.The central leadership of the Congress, which was expecting a definite victory in the state, is deeply disturbed by the shameful performance of the party in the state. Amidst the ongoing stir at the Congress headquarters, the possibility of change is being expressed soon in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh also.
50-year-old Jitu Patwari was elected MLA from Rau seat for the first time in 2013. He is currently the Congress Secretary and in-charge of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee. Patwari, who has been the President of Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress, this time also Congress had fielded Jitu Patwari from Rau seat but he lost to BJP’s Madhu Verma. In 2018, Jitu Patwari defeated Madhu Verma by 5703 votes. Jitu Patwari is considered close to Rahul Gandhi. He has also been a minister in the Kamal Nath government. Tribal leader Umang Singhar has been made the Leader of Opposition. He is MLA from Gandhwani. Hemant Katare has been made the Deputy Leader of Opposition.
Congress has faced a crushing defeat in the recently concluded assembly. In this election, while BJP got 163 seats, the opposition party Congress was satisfied with only 66 seats. After the assembly elections, where BJP has made Dr. Mohan Yadav, MLA from Ujjain South Assembly, the Chief Minister in place of Shivraj Singh Chauhan, who has been holding the post of CM for 16 and a half years, this time two Deputy Chief Ministers have also been made. The effect of this change made by BJP was also visible on the main opposition party Congress. As a result, Congress has also made big changes in the state.
Kamal Nath had maintained distance from the Congress Legislative Party meeting held in Bhopal two days ago, whereas Randeep Surjewala along with Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, Digvijay Singh were present in the meeting. However, no consensus could be reached on the name of Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Party meeting, hence the decision of Leader of Opposition was handed over to the Delhi High Command.
