The Congress has appointed Himachal Pradesh MLA Asha Kumari as the general secretary in-charge of Punjab ahead of next year's assembly elections in the state. Asha Kumari has been convicted in a land grab case in February and is currently out on bail. <br/><br/>A former state education minister, Asha Kumari has been accused of illegally transferring 60 bighas of forest land belonging to the government in the name of her husband, Brijender Singh, 18 years ago. Asha kumari's appointment came after senior party leader Kamal Nath stepped down on June 15 following a controversy over his alleged role in the 1984 riots.<br/><br/>BJP has criticised Congress for appointing a convicted leader as incharge of Punjab. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said that Congress is facing acute shortage of leaders and that is why a person out on bail has been given charge of election bound Punjab.