Former Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has been given the additional responsibility of treasurer of the Congress. The post became vacant after the demise of Ahmed Patel, a Congress leader, and Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat.
Giving a statement, party general secretary KC Venugopal said that Congress President Sonia Gandhi has given the additional responsibility of the treasurer to Pawan Kumar Bansal with immediate effect. Senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal is currently in charge of the party's administrative affairs.
Pawan Kumar Bansal, 72, has also served as Union Minister of State for Finance in the Manmohan Singh government. He has been a member of the 10th, 13th, 14th, and 15th Lok Sabha. Significantly, the key strategist of the party, Ahmed Patel, died at a hospital in Gurugram on 25 November at the age of 71. He also had the responsibility of the treasurer of the party.