Kolkata, Sept 21: In a major rejig to the West Bengal unit of Congress ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections, party president Rahul Gandhi on Monday appointed veteran politician Somendra Nath Mitra as the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief.

His appointment brings to end the reign of incumbent party's state unit president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who was reportedly facing internal dissent. Chowdhary, however, has been retained in the top brass, and has been assigned as the chairman of the Campaign Committee.

Apart from Mitra's elevation and Chowdhury's new role, Rahul Gandhi has also approved the appointment of Pradip Bhattacharya as the chairman of the Coordination Committee. Besides, Shankar Malakar, Nepal Mahato and Abu Hasem Khan Chowdhury have been appointed as working presidents in the PCC.

Mitra, a former Lok Sabha MP, is one of the tallest Congress leaders in the state. He was reportedly chosen as the replacement of Chowdhury after the Congress high command was flooded with letters by the party's state unit cadres seeking his elevation.

Notably, Mitra had parted way with the Congress in 2008, following differences with the party's then state unit. In 2009, he had founded the Pragatisheel Indira Congress, which was merged with the Trinamool Congress within months of inception. In 2014, however, Mitra returned to the Congress.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 21, 2018 03:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).