Congress makes Ajay Kumar Lallu new U.P party chief, Raj Babbar out

According to party sources, Congress, on Monday night, appointed Ajay Kumar Lallu as president of its Uttar Pradesh unit, replacing Raj Babbar.  Ajay is Congress Legislature Party leader in Uttar Pradesh and is a two-time MLA from Tamkuhi Raj constituency.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's close aide

Lallu is well kwn for being close to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who is party's General Secretary (Incharge, Uttar Pradesh East). Sources suggest that Babbar had offered to resign from his post in May, taking “moral responsibility” after party’s Lok Sabha poll debacle. Lallu’s place as new CLP leader will w be taken by Rampur MLA Aradhna Mishra Mona, who is daughter of senior leader Pramod Tiwari. According to sources, Congress will also get a new 45-member state executive body.

As per sources, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra chose Ajay Kumar Lallu for position because he has worked on ground and because she has seen his work before up close before.

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Priyanka's new operational base in UP

In more Congress developments from state of Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on Monday, decided on her operational base. She picked her close relative and late Union minister Sheila Kaul’s house for purpose.

According to sources, a house hunt was on for a long time. She reportedly made ger decision after spending time in house while she was on a visit to state capital Luckw recently.

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house w is under inspection for security needs before it is finalised as her operational base for political activities in India's most electorally significant state. senior party leaders mentioned that a final decision on issue of utilisation of house as Gandhi's operational base, however, will only be taken only upon SPG's recommendations.

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(With PTI inputs)