 On March 25, 1919, he was a candidate considered for the post of Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets following the death of Yakov Sverdlov, but Mikhail Kalinin was ultimately elected in his place.From July 1919, he was deputy head of the Political Directorate of the Revolutionary Military Council.In April 1919 he was sent to suppress the Vyoshensky Uprising on the Don.