India, Feb. 19 -- Harshwardhan Sapkal assumed charge as state Congress president on Tuesday, calling for a fresh start to rebuild the party in Maharashtra. Delivering a strong message to party workers, Sapkal said, "I have no desire to become an MLC, MP, Rajya Sabha member or chief minister - my sole focus is bringing the party back to power. There's no point shedding tears over our current situation; we must fight the battle of ideology and strengthen the party organisation."

Sapkal took the reins of the state Congress from outgoing president Nana Patole at Tilak Bhavan, the party headquarters in Mumbai. He has been chosen to lead the party in Maharashtra after its crushing defeat in last year's assembly elections. The electoral debacle...