The All India Congress Committee (AICC) appointed Rajesh Thakur as president of the state Congress unit on Wednesday, replacing Rameshwar Oraon who is finance minister in the Hemant Soren-led coalition government.
According to a notification issued by AICC national general secretary K. C. Venugopal, some office-bearers were replaced too.
Singhbhum MP Geeta Koda, wife of former chief minister Madhu Koda, Mandar MLA Bandhu Turkey, Jaleshwar Mahto and Sahjada Anwar were made co-working presidents of the state unit with immediate effect.
The change of guard in the state Congress was initiated in the wake of an ongoing tussle within the party that is a part of the ruling coalition in Jharkhand with the JMM and RJD.
The party had announced a one-man, one-post policy during the 2019 assembly elections. After the coalition came to power, Oraon became the finance minister in the incumbent government. Since then, a section of party MLAs and workers has been pressing for his removal citing the pre-poll announcement, said sources.
Recently, the party found itself at the centre of a controversy after the arrest of three "lobbyists" for allegedly plotting to topple the Hemant Soren government. The trio was reportedly in touch with three disgruntled MLAs of Congress.
