AICC’s president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday appointed veteran party leader from Maharashtra, Avinash Pande as the new in-charge for Jharkhand affairs following the departure of RPN Singh who joined BJP ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh today. Hours after Singh tendered his resignation, and changing his bio over his social media handles, he joined BJP in presence of central leaders.

In the evening, AICC replaced him by Pande. Sources said that Pande has been party’s national general secretary and represented Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra in 2010 after failing to win similar polls in 2008.

“He is a committed worker and a thorough professional. He has loads of organisational experience and will have ample time to strengthen the party here as we are already in power and elections aren’t in the offing immediately,” remarked a senior leader in Ranchi.

On RPN’s exit, many hailed it calling that it was long overdue accusing him for trying to destablise the party and the coalition government in power here. Barkagaon MLA Amba Prasad had tweeted in the morning stating that Singh was trying to destablise the government since last one year and she along with many committed party men had been apprising his wrongdoings to the central leadership. Jamtara MLA Irfan Ansari too lashed out at Singh in a statement stating that it was because of him that the party suffered several infightings.

State Congress president Rajesh Thakur, considered close to Singh however offered a measured reply. He said, “Congress needs brave and committed workers.”

Notably, it was under RPN Singh’s tenure that the party pulled through its one of the best performances in assembly polls in Jharkhand in 2019 by clinching 16 seats.