Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been appointed chairperson of the screening committee responsible for selecting candidates in Assam, where Assembly elections are due in three months. Besides Priyanka Gandhi, veteran leader Madhusudan Mistry has been appointed head of the screening committee for Kerala. Former Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister T.S. Singh Deo has been given charge of Tamil Nadu, while senior leader B.K. Hariprasad has been assigned to West Bengal.

Why Is Assam Important For Congress?

The Grand Old Party is looking to regain political ground in Assam, having lost power to the BJP in 2016. From the Congress, the political charge is expected to be led by Gaurav Gogoi, son of three-time Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

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How Priyanka Gandhi’s Appointment Could Aid Congress In Assam?

With Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s nomination as chairperson of the Assam screening committee, the Congress has, for the first time, entrusted a member of the Gandhi family with this key organisational role in the state. As committee head, Priyanka Gandhi will oversee the selection of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections and play a central role in stitching together alliances with smaller regional parties.

Senior Congress leaders and her close associates, Lok Sabha MPs Imran Masood and Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, along with Sirivella Prasad, have been appointed members of the panel. According to a report by NDTV, Priyanka has been entrusted with the task of Assam as the party believes that she could provide fresh momentum to Congress in Assam and strengthen Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi’s challenge against the BJP. 

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Priyanka Gandhi’s Debut In Indian Politics

Priyanka Gandhi formally entered active politics in 2019 but faced a major setback in 2022, when the Congress delivered one of its poorest performances in Uttar Pradesh under her leadership, securing just two seats in the 403-member Assembly and went into the sidelines.

However, in recent months, she has adopted a more assertive political posture, launching sharp attacks on the BJP in Parliament and actively participating in protests on multiple issues, including voter roll revisions and the debate surrounding Vande Mataram. She also led demonstrations inside and outside Parliament against the Centre’s proposed legislation to replace MGNREGA. Her visible presence, marked by frequent exchanges with senior BJP leaders, drew significant attention during the Winter Session.

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Assam Assembly Election 2021

In the last Assembly election held in 2021, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 75 seats, while the Congress won 50 seats in the 126-member Assembly. However, the margin between the vote shares of the two blocs was only 1.6 per cent.