Deciding on the chief ministerial face who can bind the party going forward is the immediate challenge for the Congress.
He served as the Union health minister in Modi's first term from November 9, 2014 to May 30, 2019.
The post of Chhattisgarh governor was under the additional charge of Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel since August after the demise of Balram Das Tandon.
The Congress will kickstart its election campaign in the poll-bound Himachal Pradesh with party President Sonia Gandhi addressing a rally at Mandi on Monday.
Heavy rains have battered Himachal Pradesh since Sunday, triggering landslides in Shimla's Summer Hill, Krishna Nagar and Fagli.
Some residents have already taken this step to relocate, either temporarily or permanently, some to their native places and others to clean-air destinations like Goa and Himachal Pradesh.
They scored easy victories in the Ranji Trophy Plate Group matches.
