Ranchi/Jamshedpur, Nov. 22: Congress MP from Khunti Sushila Kerketta today emerged the ?unanimous choice? of the state leaders to replace Thomas Hansda as the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) president.

Party in-charge of Jharkhand affairs Harikesh Bahadur announced her name for the post around 4 pm in New Delhi after the mandatory approval of Sonia Gandhi. Hansda tendered his resignation before the announcement was made.

?Kerketta was the unanimous choice of all the state leaders of the party,? Bahadur told The Telegraph and added that Hansda quit ?on health grounds?.

AICC also announced the names of seven vice-presidents who would help Kerketta. They are Tilakdhari Singh, P.N. Singh, Ishwari Paswan, Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu, Awad Behari Singh, Krishnand Jha and Manzoor Ahmed Ansari.

Speaking from New Delhi, a jubilant Kerketta told The Telegraph that her first priority would be to organise the state unit better ?so that we are in a position to take on the corrupt NDA government in the state?. On the fight between Hansda and Sahay, she said she would strive to put an end to the bitterness.

The appointment of Kerketta comes after a week of hectic consultations by senior AICC leaders with a section of state party leaders.

?This morning the state leaders went into a huddle with Bahadur. After a marathon meeting, the name of Kerketta was finally approved. Sonia Gandhi also gave her nod in this regard,? party sources said.

A top AICC leader said her low profile won the match for Kerketta. ?Both Kiro and Balmuchu had been lobbying hard for that post. But the high command chose Kerketta since selection of either Kiro or Balmuchu would have fanned squabbles in the party as it was the case between Hansda and the Union food processing minister Subodh Kant Sahay.?

However, a section of leaders felt someone younger and dynamic should have been given the responsibility. They said Kerketta too, like Hansda, suffered from health problems.

But Bahadur defended Kerketta, saying her problems were not as serious. ?She was in a hospital in New Delhi for a few days for a check-up. But now she is back.?