Bhupesh Baghel removed as Punjab Congress in-charge, Sachin Pilot takes over; major reshuffle ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit.
In a major organizational overhaul, the Congress party has reshuffled the responsibilities of General Secretaries in charge of several states. Senior Rajasthan leader and MP Sachin Pilot has been appointed as the in-charge of the Punjab Congress. Meanwhile, Randeep Surjewala has been entrusted with the responsibility for Gujarat and has also been given additional charge of Karnataka.
Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has now been appointed as the in-charge for Assam. Sukhdev Bhagat has been appointed in-charge for Chhattisgarh, Srivella Prasad for Maharashtra, and PV Mohan for Andhra Pradesh. Mukul Wasnik will continue in his role as General Secretary.
Major Challenge Awaits Pilot Ahead of Punjab Elections
Sachin Pilot's appointment comes ahead of Rahul Gandhi's proposed visit to Punjab. Previously, Bhupesh Baghel held the charge for Punjab. With the assembly elections scheduled for next year, Pilot faces the significant challenge of resolving internal factionalism and differences to strengthen the organization.
The Congress party in Punjab has long been grappling with organizational infighting. Even during Baghel's tenure, voices of dissent had emerged from within the party ranks. Consequently, there are expectations that the new in-charge will unite the party and sharpen its electoral strategy.
The Punjab elections are crucial for the Congress, as the party is likely to face stiff competition from the Aam Aadmi Party and other political outfits. Now, Pilot's political acumen and his acceptability within the organization will be put to the test.