Replaces Rajesh Rathore; KC Venugopal Issues Order After Kharge’s Approval

New Delhi, October 4 (HS): The Bihar Congress has taken a major step towards revitalising the organisation after the Assembly elections by restructuring the Media and Publicity Department of the Pradesh Congress Committee. Following the approval of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Ajay Kumar Paswan has been appointed as the new head of the department. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal issued an order to this effect on Sunday. The appointment has come into effect immediately.

According to the order issued by K.C. Venugopal, Ajay Kumar Paswan will now take charge of the Bihar Congress Media and Publicity Department. He will replace incumbent president Rajesh Rathore. The party’s decision is being viewed as part of its efforts to undertake organisational changes following the Assembly elections.

Rathore had, in fact, filed his nomination a day earlier as an independent candidate from the Tirhut Teachers’ constituency for the Bihar Legislative Council. The Congress had not nominated him as its candidate for the MLC election. Subsequently, the party effected a change in the leadership of its Media and Publicity Department.

Ajay Kumar Paswan is originally from Jehanabad. He has also served as the national coordinator of the Congress’s Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Department. At present, he has been firmly articulating the party’s position as a spokesperson of the Bihar Congress. He has now been entrusted with full responsibility for the state’s Media and Publicity Department.

According to party sources, the Bihar Congress is working to strengthen the organisation afresh and make its media machinery more active following the Assembly elections. The Media and Publicity Department has been reorganised as part of this exercise. Two days ago, a list was issued assigning responsibilities to 93 leaders across various positions related to media and publicity. With the latest change at the top of the department, the party has signalled its intention to reorganise and streamline its communication machinery.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar