New Delhi, April 19: Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister and Rajya Sabha MP Mukut Mithi was today appoi-nted president of the state PCC.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi took the decision, which is seen as a move to extend an olive branch to Mithi, a senior Congressman, who was overlooked for the chief minister’s post.

While Mithi was always a strong contender for chief minister, Jarbom Gamlin succeeded Dorjee Khandu after the latter’s death last year.

Arunachal’s volatile politics could not attain stability as restive dissidents soon united to dislodge Gamlin. Nabam Tuki then took over as chief minister and while Mithi’s seniority was never questioned, he could not make it to the top position. There were several contenders for the post, prominent among them were senior leader from Changlang, C.C. Singhpho, Yari Dulam, Upper Subansiri leader Takar Marde and former minister Tako Dabi.

Sources said Mithi’s appointment would give the Arunachal PCC some clout in the national capital and the AICC, where personal contacts matter.

Mithi first became a Congress MLA in 1983 and rose to being chief minister in 1999.