New Delhi, July 13
After months of speculation, the Congress today appointed former Lok Sabha MP Shamsher Singh Dullo as the new president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC).

Mr Dullo replaces Mr H.S. Hanspal, who resigned a few days ago to enable Congress president Sonia Gandhi to go ahead with the necessary organisational changes, the culmination of a lengthy internal election process.

The AICC also named four more PCC chiefs with senior Karnataka minister Mallikarujun Kharge replacing Mr Janardhan Poojary as the new KPCC president. Former working president of the Jharkhand PCC Pradeep Balmuchu was named the head of the state unit in place of Ms Sushila Karkatiya, who lost the leadership’s confidence after the party’s poor performance in the last Assembly election. Mr Dullo’s appointment came as no surprise as he had been a front-runner for the post once it became clear that the party leadership wanted a change. Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had made a strong case for retaining Mr Hanspal on grounds of continuity.

He said as much even today in an informal chat with reporters, but added hastily that eventually they would go with the party president’s choice. He was, however, overruled as there was a perception in the AICC that the CM-Hanspal team had failed to strengthen the state organisation. For the record, however, Capt Amarinder Singh welcomed Mr Dullo’s appointment, saying he would prove to be an asset for the party.

With Punjab headed for Assembly election in less than two years, the AICC wanted to project a Dalit face in the state to counter the increasing spread of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Mr Dullo was thought to fit the bill. The Scheduled Castes population in Punjab is close to 24 per cent.

Although low-profile, the new PPCC chief is perceived to be an energetic worker who has the potential of arresting the slide in the party organisation. Besides his organisational skills, he was also preferred over other contenders as he is thought to be most acceptable to the various factions in the state unit.