New Delhi: With the 2017 Punjab assembly polls in mind, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday appointed former chief minister Amarinder Singh as the state party chief, a move intended to give a fresh impetus to the beleaguered and faction-ridden unit.

"Consequent upon the resignation of Partap Singh Bajwa from the presidentship of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Sonia Gandhi has appointed Amarinder Singh president with immediate effect," a party press release said here.