After the Congress party’s third consecutive Assembly election defeat since the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, a significant organisational reshuffle was announced on Friday, a move seen as having the stamp of senior leader Rahul Gandhi. The party appointed new general secretaries for two states and in-charges for nine others, removing six leaders from these positions.
Among the outgoing leaders were Mohan Prakash (Bihar), Rajeev Shukla (Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh), and Ajoy Kumar (Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry), alongside Solanki (Jammu & Kashmir) and Yadav (Punjab).
Rajeev Shukla reflects on his tenure
In response to his removal as state in-charge, Rajeev Shukla took to X to highlight his contributions. He expressed gratitude to the party leadership, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi for the opportunity to serve the organisation. Shukla reflected on his efforts to bring the Congress government to Himachal Pradesh and stabilise it following a major setback.
“I would like to thank @kharge ji, Sonia ji, @RahulGandhi ji, @priyankagandhi ji and @kcvenugopalmp ji for providing me an opportunity to work for organisation. I tried my level best to bring govt in Himachal &then stabilise it after a major setback. Congress also won Lok Saba in chandigarh after long because of full support of party leadership to me. Would like to thank people & Congress workers of Himachal & chandigarh.@INCIndia,” Shukla said in a post on X.
He also noted that Congress’s victory in the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat after a long gap was due to the full support of the leadership. He thanked the people and Congress workers in Himachal and Chandigarh for their unwavering support.
Congress carries out major party revamp
The reshuffle is part of a broader restructuring initiative announced during the Congress Working Committee meeting in Belagavi, Karnataka, on December 26. The party had committed to a comprehensive overhaul, with an emphasis on strengthening its organizational structure at all levels ahead of the 2025 elections.
One notable appointment in the reshuffle was former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who was brought into the AICC secretariat and made the general secretary for Punjab. Syed Naseer Hussain, a Rajya Sabha MP, was named the general secretary in charge of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Baghel replaces Devender Yadav, who was simultaneously serving as Delhi Congress chief, while Hussain takes over from Gujarat leader Bharatsinh Solanki, who was in charge of Jammu & Kashmir.
A significant pattern in the new appointments is the close ties many of the appointees share with key leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. For instance, Baghel is known to have a strong rapport with Priyanka Gandhi, underscoring the growing influence of the Gandhi family’s inner circle in the party’s leadership.