By Apurva Bhatt

Rahul Gandhi may be away from the ongoing budget session but he is making his mark. In a major reshuffle ahead of possible elevation of Rahul Gandhi as party president at the All India Congress Committee session next month, Congress on Monday appointed five new Pradesh Congress Committee chiefs and one regional Congress Committee President. 

Ashok Chavan the Maratha leader from Nanded has been appointed Maharashtra congress chief, while Sanjay Nirupam, the north Indian from Mumbai will be the chief of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee. The changes in the states were due for long and Rahul was particularly keen to have new PCC chiefs in these states.

Indications had it that he had to push hard for changes in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The changes come at a time when Rahul Gandhi's two-week sabbatical, in the midst of the crucial Budget session, is nearing an end. Party sources said that Rahul will be back soon. Besides, Mallu Bhati Virkamarka, an MLA has been appointed as Working President for Telangana. The new Telangana PCC chief Reddy replaces incumbent state chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah, who was appointed only in March last year. Reddy was then made working president. While Chavan replaces Manikrao Thakre, Ghulam Ahmed Mir replaces Saifuddin Soz in Jammu and Kashmir.