In Assam, the Congress party has given Priyanka Gandhi a major responsibility, appointing her as the chairperson of the party's screening committee. This decision was not taken suddenly; rather, several political messages are hidden behind it.
Priyanka Gandhi given a major responsibility in the Assam elections
New Delhi: The Congress party has appointed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the chairperson of the screening committee for the Assam Assembly elections. This is a decision that is being seen as having far-reaching political implications both within and outside the party. This is the first time that a member of the Gandhi family has been given the responsibility of selecting candidates for a state assembly election.
Fear of defections: The political context of Assam makes this decision even more significant. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is not only counted among the influential leaders of the BJP, but he is also a vocal critic of the Gandhi family. In this situation, by giving the responsibility of Assam to Priyanka, the party wants to show that it is fielding the same political leadership in his stronghold that has a strong grip on the organization.
The Congress also fears that some party leaders might switch sides before the elections. Defections are not new in Northeast politics. The Congress has already suffered the consequences of this in the past. Therefore, the top leadership wants to have control over the candidate selection process. It is hoped that Priyanka will promote only those leaders who have a clean image, ideological commitment, and loyalty to the organization so that there is no defection after the elections.
The work of the screening committee may seem technical, but it is one of the decisive processes in electoral politics. The main task of the screening committee is to scrutinize the potential candidates from each assembly constituency, their political background, commitment to the organization, social acceptability, and most importantly, the possibility of defection. Although the final approval is given by the Central Election Committee (CEC), the responsibility of deciding which names reach the CEC rests with the screening committee.
Assam is not new to Priyanka. Although she may not have been formally visible in the 2021 assembly elections, her role at the strategic level was crucial. The decision to appoint Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel as the senior observer for Assam was also part of the same strategy. This time too, Bhupesh Baghel and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have been appointed as senior observers for Assam.
The Congress’s position in Assam is not very weak. In the 2021 assembly elections, out of 126 seats, the NDA got 75 and the Congress alliance got 50 seats. The difference in vote percentage was only 1.6%. The NDA got 43.9% and the Congress alliance got 42.3% of the votes. This shows that if there is better coordination among the opposition, the contest could be tough this time. This is where Priyanka’s role becomes crucial.
Signs of a comeback in UP: Assembly elections are to be held in Uttar Pradesh in 2027. UP is the state where Priyanka was in charge of the Congress for a long time. The party is now once again preparing to sharpen its strategy around her. On January 12, Priyanka’s birthday, the UP Congress launched a special 100-day strategy. In the 2022 assembly elections, the contest narrowed down to a fight between the BJP and the SP. This caused significant damage to the Congress. Now the party wants to break new ground by focusing on social justice and OBC politics. The responsibility of the screening committee in Assam and the preparations for 2027 in UP indicate that the Congress is gradually establishing Priyanka in a broader political role. This role is not limited to campaigning but is related to strategy, organization, and leadership.
Authored by: Hemant Rajoura • Edited by: Akshay Srivastava
About the Author
Hemant Rajoura is a Special Correspondent at Navbharat Times. He deeply covers the politics of major opposition parties including Congress, SP, and RJD. He also keeps a close watch on important news related to health, science, and policy. Ground reporting, clarity of analysis, and strong access to reliable sources are the hallmarks of his journalism.
Courtesy: Hindi News