Key takeaways from the changes made by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge

Mallikarjun Kharge constituted the Congress Working Committee on Sunday. The CWC contains Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and a few new names, together with Shashi Tharoor and Sachin Pilot. File picture/PTI

A large change is going down throughout the Congress, and Mallikarjun Kharge is placing his stamp on the occasion. On 20 August (Sunday), the Congress introduced an overhaul of the occasion, reconstituting its working committee – the occasion’s prime decision-making physique.

The adjustments throughout the occasion come eight months forward of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and on the start anniversary of occasion mascot Rajiv Gandhi.

The brand new CWC (Congress Working Committee) contains of 39 common members, 32 everlasting invitees and 13 particular invitees, together with presidents of the Youth Congress, the Nationwide College students’ Union of India, the Mahila Congress and the Seva Dal as ex-officio members.

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We take a better take a look at who’s in, who’s out and what these adjustments imply for the occasion that’s struggling to tackle the Modi juggernaut.

A rejigged CWC

After it was determined in February that occasion chief Mallikarjun Kharge would nominate the members to the CWC, the occasion on Sunday introduced its overhaul, including some new names whereas eradicating another important personalities.

First, let’s check out some outstanding inclusions into the occasion’s prime decision-making physique. Kharge has included younger leaders, leaders from election certain states and dissidents in order to offer the CWC a balanced outlook.

One of the important inclusions within the CWC is Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor and former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot.

Kharge has additionally included former Chief Ministers Ashok Chavan and Charanjit Singh Channi into the very best decision-making physique of the Congress. Apart from these names, Kharge has additionally inducted former Gujarat Congress president Jagdish Thakor, former Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Gujarat chief Deepak Babaria, West Bengal chief Deepa Dasmunsi, former Andhra Pradesh Congress chief N Raghuveera Reddy, Chhattisgarh house minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain, younger Madhya Pradesh MLA Kamleshwar Patel and Rajasthan minister Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya into the enlarged 39-member essential CWC.

Get together chief Kharge has additionally inducted a number of leaders as everlasting invitees. These embody former Karnataka chief minister M Veerappa Moily, Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari, Kerala’s Ramesh Chennithala, Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh amongst others.

Leaders similar to Gaurav Gogoi, Supriya Shrinate, who serves as the present chairperson social media and digital platforms, Pawan Khera, Alka Lamba and even Kanhaiya Kumar have discovered an area throughout the CWC.

Reacting to the information, Tharoor stated that he was honoured by occasion chief Mallikarjun Kharge and the central management’s resolution to appoint him to the working committee and asserted that numerous Indians who search a extra inclusive India “deserve the perfect” from the occasion. “I’m honoured by the choice of the @INCIndia President Shri Mallikarjun @Kharge ji and the Congress central management to appoint me to the Working Committee,” Tharoor stated in a submit on X.

Sachin Pilot, too, expresses his gratitude for the inclusion into the physique. “All of us will strengthen the customs and beliefs of the Congress and take it extra strongly to the folks,” he wrote.

Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan, who additionally has been inducted into the CWC, stated he was honoured to be included within the CWC. “It’s with nice humility that I settle for this duty and I decide to working tirelessly in the direction of the betterment of the Congress Get together and the nation. I’m totally devoted to upholding the occasion’s values and rules, and to contributing to its progress and success,” he tweeted on X.

Aside from these additions, Kharge has additionally eliminated or excluded some members from the CWC, elevating eyebrows. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot in addition to Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah discover no place within the rejigged CWC.

Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Harish Rawat additionally has been faraway from the occasion’s prime physique.

Different leaders who’ve been dropped are Raghuvir Singh Meena from Rajasthan, Dinesh Gundurao, KH Muniyappa and HK Patil from Karnataka (all state ministers in Karnataka now), Congress deputy chief in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari, PL Punia and Raghu Sharma.

Messaging behind the brand new CWC

However what do these additions to the CWC imply for the occasion and its politics? Political pundits and Congress observers be aware that there’s loads of significance behind Kharge’s adjustments to the CWC.

For starters, he’s added Shashi Tharoor to the CWC. For individuals who don’t keep in mind, Tharoor had contested in opposition to Kharge within the occasion presidential elections final 12 months. And by including him to the CWC, Kharge has displayed that there’s no animosity or pettiness in opposition to the Thiruvananthapuram MP.

Kharge has additionally included Sachin Pilot into the CWC. That is important as Pilot had revolted in opposition to the Gehlot authorities in 2020 and had been faraway from the deputy chief minister’s submit following it. His elevation to the CWC exhibits that the occasion values him and his function in Rajasthan politics. Moreover, it additionally takes the stress off Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot forward of the state Meeting elections probably in November-December this 12 months.

The Deccan Herald famous that by including Pilot, Kharge was meaning to ship the message to maintain occasion chief ministers beneath examine by inducting their bête noire within the panel. It additionally ensures that dissident actions are checked to minimise losses in addition to be sure that one chief doesn’t emerge because the lone warrior and thus difficult the management.

Kharge has additionally included leaders similar to Anand Sharma and Mukul Wasnik into the CWC. It’s vital to notice right here that these personalities had been a part of the G-23 grouping, who had articulated the necessity for intra occasion reforms.

The additions to the CWC come at a time when the occasion is getting ready for a number of state elections in addition to the 2024 common elections.

Apparently, the highest decision-making physique of Congress now has a complete of six OBC (Different Backward Castes) leaders in opposition to only one within the earlier committee and 9 Scheduled Caste leaders. Kharge has additionally included a tribal chief on the brand new checklist with Rajasthan minister Mahendrajeet Malviya. This could possibly be a sign of Congress’ outreach earlier than the state polls.

Nonetheless, one massive concern that ballot pundits have famous from the newly-reconstituted CWC is that no chief from election-bound Telangana has been included. Nonetheless, a shock inclusion is former Minister, N Raghuveera Reddy from Andhra Pradesh.

With inputs from companies