Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 29: The Congress has begun a major organisational restructuring exercise with the first round of key appointments announced in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Haryana, signalling a wider reshuffle within the party in the coming weeks.

According to party sources, priority is being given to states scheduled to witness Assembly elections early next year, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur.

On Saturday, the Congress appointed Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore as the new Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president, replacing K Selvaperunthagai.

Tagore's appointment is being seen as a strategic move by the party, particularly due to his role in facilitating the Congress-TVK alliance. The move is aimed at strengthening the party's position ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

A day earlier, the Congress appointed Rajendra Pal Gautam as the party's new in-charge for Uttar Pradesh. Gautam, a prominent Dalit leader and former Delhi minister, is expected to play a key role in strengthening the party's outreach among Scheduled Caste voters in the state.

The move aligns with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's focus on increasing representation of Dalits, Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and other marginalised communities in the party organisation.

In Punjab, the Congress leadership is considering a change in the state unit, with former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa emerging as possible contenders for the post of state Congress president.

Rajasthan may also witness a leadership change, with PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra completing six years in office. Sources indicated that former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot is likely to succeed him.

The party is also expected to reshuffle AICC state in-charges as part of the larger organisational revamp, with changes likely across several states.