Raipur: The Congress has appointed Mohan Markam as the new state president of Chhattisgarh. Till now, CM Bhupesh Baghel was also the president of the state unit of the party. The new state president was being sought since Baghel became the CM. Two-time MLA Mohan Markam and veteran tribal MLA Manoj Mandavi met Congress President Rahul Gandhi in the past.

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It was believed since that one of these two leaders could become state president. The issue of the new chief for the Chhattisgarh unit of the Congress was discussed from Raipur to Delhi, the party's national president Rahul Gandhi held discussions with several leaders of the state, whose decision has come out. When the Congress returned to power after a decade and a half in the state, the Lok Sabha elections did not yield the expected results. Out of 11 Lok Sabha seats, only two have won the Congress. Bhupesh Baghel has been seeking liberation from the post of head of state since assuming the responsibility of CM.

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Congress sources said the names of Amarjit Bhagat, Mohan Markam and Manoj Mandavi were being discussed in the race for the state head. Discussions were also going on in the party. Of the three contenders, Amarjeet Bhagat is set to be in the Bhupesh cabinet. Party President Rahul Gandhi had also discussed the issue with Markam and Mandavi.