Congress has entrusted five Jharkhand leaders, including two cabinet ministers, with key responsibilities in poll bound states of Bengal and Assam, state party officials said on Tuesday.

According to a notification issued by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), state health minister and Jamshedpur West MLA Banna Gupta has been appointed poll observer for Purulia district in Bengal. Other observers for Bengal include Mahagama MLA Deepika Pandey Singh (Birbhum), Bermo MLA Anup Singh (West Burdwan) and former state pollution control board chairman Mani Shankar (Bankura).

Alamgir Alam(left). Picture by Manob Chwdhary

In January, state rural development minister and Pakur MLA Alamgir Alam was made a member of the campaign committee for the Bengal polls after which the veteran Congressman toured various border areas of Bengal and Jharkhand. Additionally, Deepika has also been made a member of the screening committee to shortlist candidates for Assam under the chairmanship of former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Anup Singh. Picture by Manob Chwdhary

Notably, Chavan is said to be among the Congress's G-23 dissenters, who have called for sweeping changes in the functioning of the party under the high command.

Banna Gupta said he was thankful to the central leadership of the party for having reposed its faith in him. "Purulia has nine Assembly segments. The Congress won two and the rest are with TMC. Going by the initial survey, the Congress-Left alliance is placed in a better position in these areas. My role will be to micro manage electioneering for the benefit of my party,” he said.

Banna Gupta (in middle). Picture by Manob Chwdhary

Deepika also hailed the central leadership for giving such an opportunity to young workers like her. “The focus will be on picking the best candidates for Assam polls,” she said.

Deepika Pandey Singh. Picture by Manob Chwdhary

Speaking to the media a few days back, state Congress president Rameshwar Oraon had said that they would be campaigning actively in Bengal and Assam. “Both states have a considerable tribal population and leaders from Jharkhand will play an important role in wooing voters,” he said.