Ambika Soni asks Congress to relieve her as party in-charge of Himachal, Uttarakhand

Senior Congress leader Ambika Soni has asked the party to relieve her as in-charge of the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Soni made the request citing health reasons. At the same time, she dismissed reports of her resignation from the party.

"There is no question of resigning," Soni told PTI.

"I had myself asked the party leadership to lighten my duties in the party due to my health," she said, adding that she will continue to fulfil the responsibilities till new appointments are made.

Soni, who handled tourism-culture and information-broadcasting portfolios in UPA I and UPA II, is the general secretary of the party and a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), its highest decision-making body. She represents Punjab in the Rajya Sabha.

It is not clear whether the Congress has accepted her resignation from those posts. While Uttarakhand went to polls earlier this year resulting in a big defeat for the party, Himachal Pradesh, currently ruled by the Congress, will hold elections later this year.

"A year ago Ambika Soni had requested the party leadership to lighten her duties on account of her health. The party has and will always continue to utilise her experience and acumen," said party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

The Congress leadership is in the process of restructuring the party by bringing in some new faces in leading roles, ahead of organisational elections that are set to end by October 15.