The central leadership of the Congress picked Rajesh Thakur to head the party in Jharkhand where the party is the part of Hemant Soren led JMM-Congress-RJD Government having four Ministers.
However, the change of guard in Jharkhand had long been expected as there was a growing demand to replace Rameshwar Oraon on the basis of one man one post rule. But, the selection of Thakur surprised and baffled many in the party. Thakur was among the many working presidents of the previous State unit which stands dissolved.
The new JPCC president is said to be close to Jharkhand Congress in-charge RPN Singh. Party insiders said that Singh had lobbied for his elevation as president. Nevertheless, the former president Dr Ajoy Kumar, who recently joined the party once again was also lobbying for State president post.
The party also appointed Geeta Kora (MP), Bandhu Tirkey (MLA), Jaishankar Mahto and Shahzada Anwar as working presidents.
However, the party performed well in the last Assembly election and formed the government along with the JMM as the junior alliance partner but the growth of the party has been marred by factionalism.
The previous leadership was accused for being servile to the JMM and the chief minister in the matter of governance and policy decisions. The four women MLA namely Dipika Pandey Singh, Purnima Singh, Mamata Devi and Amba Prasad have gone vocal to pressurise the government to implement poll promises.
Dipika, who is also AICC secretary and co-in-charge of party for poll bound Uttarakhand has been relentlessly raising issues of youth, employment and development. Besides, she was asking the State leadership to pressurise the government to constitute 20th point programme committees from State to block level and accommodate party workers in the committee so that the promises and manifesto of the party is implemented on the ground level.
For Thakur his ability will be tested on how he fulfils organizational and political aspirations of the party.