ALL INDIA Congress Committee (AICC) President Rahul Gandhi has appointed Kondagaon MLA and senior tribal leader Mohan Markam as new President of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC). The letter appointing him as the CPCC President was issued by AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal on Friday. Mohan Markam has been appointed as CPCC President in place of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Chhattisgarh Congress In-charge P L Punia, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Health Minister T S Singhdeo congratulated Mohan Markam for his appointment as CPCC Chief.

 

 

Punia tweeted and said, “Congratulations and best wishes to MLA Mohan Markam for his success as CPCC President.” Chief Minister Baghel tweeted and said, “I congratulate Mohan Mohan as new CPCC President and extend my best wishes to him. I thank the party leaders and workers for extending constant support for five years as CPCC President.” Mohan Markam is two times MLA from Kondagaon Assembly constituency reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST). Mohan Markam is born at Tedmunda village under Makdi tehsil of Kondagaon district on September 15 in 1967. He is the fifth among 9 children of father late Bhikhrai Markam. He got primary education from his native village Tedmunda and got middle education from Middle School Katagaon. Markam received high school and higher secondary school education from Makdi. A Post Graduate in Geography from Kanker College, Markam had enrolled for L.L.B Jagdalpur but left the course midway after being selected for a Government job. Mohan Markam has been active in politics since his student life. He was President of the Students Union. Mohan Markam, who became Senior Under Officer in NCC, participated Republic Day Parade in New Delhi.

 

 

Markma had contested Assembly election first time on a Congress ticket against BJP candidate Lata Usendi in 2008 but he lost the election by a margin of 2,771 votes. In 2013 and 2018, Markam defeated BJP candidate Lata Usendi. He was adjudged the best MLA by Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly for fourth legislative Assembly (2013 and 2018). He was President of Adivasi Gond Samaj and Divisional Vice-President of Adivasi Vikas Parishad. At present, Markma is the member of AICC. Earlier, he had worked on various posts in party organisation including Block Congress Committee President. Meanwhile, Bhupesh Baghel was President of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) for over 2000 days. Baghel was appointed the CPCC President on December 19, 2013. Bhupesh Baghel was re-appointed the CPCC President on January 6, 2018. Under his leadership, Congress party won 68 assembly seats out of 90 in 2018 assembly elections. BJP won only 15 assembly seats in the assembly elections. Baghel’s tenure as the CPCC President was golden era for the Congress party because Congress party succeeded to dethrone the BJP from the State after 15 years. He was elected the Congress Legislative Party leader. Patan MLA Bhupesh Baghel took oath as third Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh at Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium in Raipur on December 17, 2018.

 

 

 

 

THE second expansion of Chhattisgarh Cabinet will be held on Saturday. The official sources confirmed that the swearing-in ceremony of the second expansion of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel Cabinet is scheduled to take place at 7 pm on Saturday at Raj Bhavan. Sitapur MLA and senior tribal leader Amarjeet Bhagat will be administered oath as Cabinet Minister by Governor Anandiben Patel at Raj Bhavan. The official sources confirmed that the Raj Bhavan has already started preparation to organise the swearing-in on Saturday. After the swearing-in of one more Cabinet Minister, the strength of Chhattisgarh Cabinet will be 13, including Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

 

 

After appointment of Kondagaon MLA Mohan Markam as new President of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) on Friday, it became certain that Amarjeet Bhagat will get a berth in the Cabinet. At present, one post of Cabinet Minister is lying vacant in Baghel Government and soon the post will be filled, if Congress sources are to be believed. Earlier, Amarjeet Bhagat’s name was prominently taken for the post of CPCC President after Bhupesh expressed his desire to put in papers as the CPCC President after he was appointed the chief minister of State. Amarjeet Bhagat is four times MLA from Sitapur reserved Assembly constituency for Scheduled Tribes (ST). Bhagat’s name was also considered earlier for the ministerial berth but there was opposition to his name after which he was dropped. But his name was prominently being considered for the post of CPCC President. Bhagat had also expressed his willingness to join as a member of the cabinet rather than being appointed as the CPCC President. T S Singhdeo also indicated that one more cabinet minister will be appointed from Surguja division in the Congress Government. Patan MLA Bhupesh Baghel took oath as third Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh at Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium, Raipur on December 17. Ambikapur MLA T S Singhdeo and Durg Rural MLA Tamradhwaj Sahu took oath the same day.

 

 

Nine Congress Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) including a woman legislator were sworn in as Cabinet ministers in the Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel led Congress government on December 25. Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath to Saja MLA Ravindra Choubey, Pratappur MLA Dr Premsai Singh Tekam, Kawardha MLA Mohammad Akbar, Konta MLA Kawasi Lakhma, Arang MLA Dr Shiv Kumar Dahariya, Dondilohara MLA Anila Bhendia, Korba MLA Jaisingh Agrawal, Ahiwara MLA Guru Rudra Kumar and Kharsia MLA Umesh Patel as Cabinet ministers during a swearing-in ceremony held at Police Parade Ground on December 25.