Congress party president Sonia Gandhi today relieved Union Law Minister and in charge of the party affairs in AP Mr Veerappa Moily from the AP responsibility and replaced him with Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad.

Azad, a proven loyalist of the Gandhis, has a clear idea of the AP congress politics and maintains excellent relations with almost all senior leaders of the party. Azad was in charge of the AP congress affairs during the 2004 assembly elections.

The AP congress legislature party meeting that elected Kirankumar reddy as the chief minister in place of K. Rosaiah in December last was held in the presence of Azad. He could ensure the smooth passage of the election of Kiran as the chief minister.

The AICC announced that KB Krishna Murthy and Santaram Naik would assist Azad in managing the affairs of congress in AP.

In another axing, Telangana region senior congress leader K. Keshava rao was not only dropped from the Congress Working Committee but also relieved of his responsibilities as in charge of party affairs in West Bengal.