New Delhi, June 28 (UNI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has approved the proposal for the appointment of TS Singh Deo as the Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, a senior party leader said on Wednesday.

The latest development comes hours after Kharge convened a meeting with the Congress' Chhattisgarh unit at the party headquarters here, in presence of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

"He (Singh Deo) is a loyal Congress leader and an able administrator. The state will benefit greatly from his services as Deputy CM," KC Venugopal wrote in a tweet.

In an apparent reference to the upcoming Assembly polls in the state which is scheduled to be held later this year, Venugopal said, "We are confident that the people of Chattisgarh will re-elect the Congress with a thumping majority under the leadership of Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji."

Earlier in the day, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi exuded confidence that the party will retain power in Chhattisgarh.

Rahul in a social media post wrote, "The Congress party has been dedicated to serving the farmers, labourers, tribals, women, youth and every citizen of Chhattisgarh. Today a meeting was held with the leaders of Chhattisgarh Congress under the leadership of party president Mallikarjun Kharge."

"Congress will again form the government in Chhattisgarh - to make the state more advanced," he said.