In Congress organisational reshuffle, Sachin Pilot gets poll-bound Punjab, Surjewala for Gujarat, Baghel moved to Assam

In a serious reshuffle of organisational duties, the Congress on Saturday (September 5, 2026) appointed Sachin Pilot as the brand new All India Congress Committee (AICC) common secretary in-charge of poll-bound Punjab, whereas Randeep Singh Surjewala will deal with Gujarat along with Karnataka.

The modifications, made by celebration president Mallikarjun Kharge and introduced by common secretary (organisation) Okay.C. Venugopal, come forward of essential State elections. Whereas Meeting elections in Punjab are scheduled for early 2027, Gujarat will go to the polls later subsequent 12 months.

Main reshuffle for ballot certain States, Punjab and Gujarat.
| Picture Credit score:
Indian Nationwide Congress

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has been moved from Punjab to Assam as the brand new Congress common secretary for the State.

The change in Punjab is most vital because it comes amid intense factionalism between the camps of former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.

If not a snub to Mr. Baghel, the Punjab transfer may be seen as an try by the excessive command to press the reset button to comprise factionalism.

In a celebration rejig in July, the excessive command’s choice to make Mr. Channi the chairman of the marketing campaign committee whereas persevering with with Mr. Warring because the PCC chief triggered triggered open factionalism. 

By appointing Mr. Pilot, who served as a senior ballot observer in Kerala, the place the Congress-led United Democratic Entrance scored a powerful victory, the Congress excessive command has tried to convey its intent.

The factionalism has not solely created unhealthy optics however has additionally held up a proposed political yatra of the State by the Chief of the Opposition within the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Mr. Surjewala, too, appears to have been rewarded for guaranteeing a easy transition of management in Karnataka, from Siddaramaiah to D.Okay. Shivakumar because the Chief Minister.

Mr. Surjewala has been made common secretary in cost of Gujarat and Karnataka, the place the Congress is in energy. Mukul Wasnik, who was dealing with Gujarat, will proceed as an All India Congress Committee (AICC) common secretary.

The celebration has additionally appointed Lok Sabha member from Jharkhand, Sukhdeo Bhagat, as AICC in-charge of Chhattisgarh; Sirivella Prasad as in-charge of Maharashtra; and P.V. Mohan as in-charge of Andhra Pradesh.

The Congress management thanked the outgoing common secretaries and in-charges.

Whereas Jitendra Singh had resigned following the celebration’s debacle within the Meeting elections earlier this 12 months, Ramesh Chennithala, who was dealing with Maharashtra, grew to become Kerala’s Dwelling Minister. Equally, AICC in-charge for Maharashtra Manickam Tagore was made the brand new PCC president of Tamil Nadu.