Nana Patole takes charge as Maharashtra Congress chief

Congress leader Nana Patole took charge as the Maharashtra Congress party Chief on Friday. He formally accepted the post from outgoing state party chief Balasaheb Thorat.

Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Aslam Shaikh, who was present at the venue told , "The Congress party workers are happy. Bala ji worked very well during his tenure and we hope to continue with the trend. We all are very enthusiastic."

After Nana Patole stepped down as Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker, he was appointed the President of Maharashtra Congress Pradesh Committee on February 5.

The 57-year-old four-term MLA from Sakoli in Bhandara district replaces Balasaheb Thorat, who helmed state Congress for 18 months and is presently Maharashtra's revenue minister.

The party had also announced the names of six working presidents and 10 vice presidents for Maharashtra.

Congress in a release had said former ministers Shivajirao Moghe, Chandrakant Handore, Arif Naseem Khan, Basavraj Patil and young MLAs Kunal Rohidas Patil and Prti Sushilkumar Shinde are appointed as the new working presidents of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).

( With inputs from ANI )