New Delhi: The Congress party is preparing for a major organisational reshuffle across the country following the appointment of DK Shivakumar as Karnataka Chief Minister and the elevation of BK Hariprasad as the new Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president.
According to party sources, the leadership is planning extensive changes in several states, including the replacement of state presidents and party in-charges in more than half a dozen regions. The exercise is expected to be one of the most significant organisational restructurings undertaken during the tenure of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and could be the final major reshuffle before his term concludes next year.
The roadmap for the changes was reportedly discussed during a recent meeting attended by Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress Organisation General Secretary KC Venugopal. The focus of the discussions was strengthening the party ahead of upcoming assembly elections and laying the groundwork for future national challenges.
Focus Shifts To Election-Bound States
The Congress leadership is prioritising states scheduled to go to the polls early next year, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. Elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are expected later in the year.
Except for Punjab, where Congress faces competition from multiple regional players, the party remains in direct electoral competition with the BJP in most of these states. Congress currently governs Himachal Pradesh, making the upcoming election particularly significant for the party.
Punjab Leadership Under Review
Punjab is emerging as one of the key states where organisational changes are being actively considered. Although Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel has publicly denied any imminent leadership change, internal discussions suggest otherwise.
The party leadership is reportedly evaluating whether to replace state Congress president Amrinder Singh Brar. One factor under consideration is that both Brar and Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa belong to the Jat Sikh community, prompting discussions about creating a broader social balance within the party structure.
Among the frontrunners for the state president’s post is Vijay Inder Singla, currently serving as the Congress national co-treasurer. Party insiders view him as a prominent Hindu face of the Congress in Punjab. At the same time, another section of leaders is advocating for former Chief Minister and MP Charanjit Singh Channi, believing his appointment could strengthen the party’s outreach among Dalit voters.
Punjab remains a politically challenging state for Congress, where it must simultaneously counter the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Uttar Pradesh Leadership May Also See Changes
In Uttar Pradesh, Congress is working alongside the Samajwadi Party to challenge the BJP-led government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Sources indicate that changes are being considered because several top leadership positions in the state unit are currently occupied by upper-caste leaders. State in-charge Avinash Pandey, state president Ajay Rai and legislative party leader Aradhana Mishra all belong to upper-caste communities.
As Congress seeks to strengthen its appeal among Dalit voters, discussions are underway about appointing a Dalit leader either as state president or state in-charge.
However, party leaders acknowledge that a similar social-engineering experiment in Bihar before the assembly elections did not yield the desired political results.
Goa, Tamil Nadu And Puducherry Set For Restructuring
Congress recently appointed Girish Chodankar as Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president. Chodankar previously handled party responsibilities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, creating vacancies in those states.
Sources suggest that new in-charges and state presidents are likely to be appointed in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as part of the wider restructuring exercise.
Meanwhile, Manipur and Uttarakhand have already witnessed leadership changes recently, with new state presidents appointed earlier this year and late last year, respectively.
Changes Likely In Kerala, Maharashtra, Assam And Bengal
The reshuffle is also expected to impact states that recently witnessed assembly elections.
In Kerala, state Congress president Sunny Joseph has joined the state government as a minister, creating the need for a new state party chief. Additionally, Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala has also become a minister in Kerala, prompting discussions about appointing a new in-charge for Maharashtra.
In Assam, Congress suffered a significant electoral setback, leading state in-charge Jitendra Singh to resign. A replacement is expected soon.
West Bengal could also see leadership changes. Sources indicate that Bengal in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir may be replaced as the party attempts to revive its organisational structure after repeated electoral disappointments.
Similarly, Bihar, where Congress performed poorly in the assembly elections last year, is expected to witness major structural changes.
Senior Leaders May Receive New Responsibilities
Several senior Congress leaders are also likely to see changes in their responsibilities.
Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa is reportedly among those whose roles may be reviewed. Delhi in-charge Qazi Nizamuddin could be relieved of additional responsibilities due to the upcoming elections in Uttarakhand, where he serves as an MLA.
Sources indicate that Congress General Secretary Sachin Pilot may be entrusted with a larger and more politically significant state than Chhattisgarh. Mukul Wasnik could be shifted from Gujarat to another assignment, while Rajni Patil may be relieved of her responsibilities in Himachal Pradesh.
Andhra Pradesh in-charge Manickam Tagore is also expected to receive a revised organisational role.
With BK Hariprasad moving to Karnataka as state Congress president, the party will additionally need to appoint a new in-charge for Haryana.
Spotlight On KC Venugopal And Priyanka Gandhi
Among the biggest talking points within the Congress is the future role of KC Venugopal, who has served as Organisation General Secretary for nearly seven years.
Despite speculation, sources suggest there is little likelihood of immediate action against Venugopal, particularly after he was overlooked for the Chief Minister’s post in Kerala despite reportedly enjoying strong support among legislators.
Attention is also focused on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has not held a major organisational responsibility for the past two-and-a-half years. Whether she will be assigned a significant role in the upcoming restructuring remains unclear.
A Reshuffle With 2029 In Mind
Party insiders believe the organisational overhaul is not merely about upcoming assembly elections but also about preparing the Congress for the next Lok Sabha election cycle.
While it remains uncertain whether the changes will be announced all at once or in phases, the reshuffle is expected to reshape the party’s organisational structure from the national level down to individual state units.
For the Congress leadership, the exercise represents an attempt to address electoral challenges, improve social representation, strengthen state organisations and position the party more effectively for future political battles.