Uttar Pradesh: Congress appoints kin of Sonbhadra massacre victims as district president

In a major reshuffle to boost grass-root connect, Congress on Tuesday appointed Ramraj Gaud – kin of the people who were killed in Sonbhadra massacre as the president of the Sonbhadra district Congress committee.

The second-largest district of Uttar Pradesh, Sonbhadra has the maximum tribal population in the state. It is the only district in India which borders four states namely Madhya Pradesh in the west, Chhattishgarh in the south, Jharkhand in south-east and Bihar in the east.

A well-known tribal activist in Sonbhadra, Ramraj Gaud met Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi when she visited Sonbhadra after Ubha massacre in August this year.

Talking to NH Ramraj said that his first priority is to ensure justice for the victims of Umbha massacre.

“Also, under the direction of Priyanka Gandhi and state president Ajay Singh Lallu, we will work to bring back tribes to the Congress fold in the district,” he added.

Analysts believe that the appointment of a Gaud as the district president marks a shift in Congress’ approach in UP.

“Under Priyanka Gandhi’s watch, Congress is trying to revamp the organisation and it is very evident by the way new appointments have been done. People from OBC, Dalit, Tribal communities are being given priority,” said a senior journalist.

It’s important to recall here that the Congress party recently appointed Ajay Singh Lallu, an OBC leader as the President of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee. Here is the list of appointments of the district Congress Committees in Uttar Pradesh: