Congress appoints Rajesh Kumar as Bihar unit chief ahead of polls

Ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, the Congress has appointed Rajesh Kumar as the new president of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC), replacing Akhilesh Prasad Singh. The decision is being seen as a calculated attempt by the party to consolidate Dalit support in the state.

Rajesh Kumar, a Dalit leader and sitting MLA from Kutumba, is known to have close ties with Rahul Gandhi.

The removal of Akhilesh Prasad Singh comes against the backdrop of reported friction between him and the party’s Bihar in-charge. Singh had recently expressed his displeasure over the handling of party affairs, especially concerning outreach programmes.