Archive · 8 Jan 2026
Congress Appoints Observers for State Elections
The Congress party has appointed several leaders as observers for the upcoming elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry.
Bhupesh Baghel, D K Shivakumar, and Bandhu Tirkey will oversee Assam, while Sachin Pilot and others will handle Kerala.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is heading the screening committee for Assam, which is her first major organisational task.
These appointments are seen as a strategy to improve the party's coordination and readiness for the elections, which are expected in the next few months.
The moves are also politically significant, especially in Karnataka, where there is an ongoing power struggle within the Congress party.
D.K. Shivakumar, a strong contender for the Chief Minister's post in Karnataka, has accepted his role as an observer for Assam, indicating that the party high command is not considering a leadership change in Karnataka at this time.
Congress appoints Bhupesh Baghel, D K Shivakumar, and Bandhu Tirkey as senior observers for Assam elections.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra heads the screening committee for Assam, her first major organisational task.
Sachin Pilot, K J George, Imran Pratapgarhi, and Kanhaiya Kumar appointed as observers for Kerala elections.
Mukul Wasnik, Uttam Kumar Reddy, and Qazi Mohammad Nizamuddin appointed as observers for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
D.K. Shivakumar accepts the role as an observer for Assam, indicating no immediate leadership change in Karnataka.
- Who
- Congress party leadership, including Bhupesh Baghel, D K Shivakumar, Sachin Pilot, and others
- What
- Appointment of observers and screening committee heads for upcoming state elections
- When
- Appointments made on Wednesday, with elections expected in the next few months
- Where
- Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry
- Why
- To strengthen organisational coordination and election preparedness ahead of the polls
Congress Leadership
Karnataka Leadership Aspirants
Leadership Change in Karnataka
Congress Leadership
The party high command is not considering a leadership change in Karnataka and is involving Siddaramaiah in campaigning in Kerala.
Karnataka Leadership Aspirants
D.K. Shivakumar and his supporters hope for a leadership change after the Sankranti festival, with Shivakumar being a strong contender for the Chief Minister's post.
- States with elections
- Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry
- Assam observers
- Bhupesh Baghel, D K Shivakumar, Bandhu Tirkey
- Kerala observers
- Sachin Pilot, K J George, Imran Pratapgarhi, Kanhaiya Kumar
- Tamil Nadu & Puducherry observers
- Mukul Wasnik, Uttam Kumar Reddy, Qazi Mohammad Nizamuddin
- West Bengal observers
- Sudip Roy Burman, Shakeel Ahmad Khan, Prakash Joshi
- Assam screening committee head
- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
- Kerala screening committee head
- Madhusudan Mistry
- Tamil Nadu & Puducherry screening committee head
- TS Singh Deo
- West Bengal screening committee head
- BK Hariprasad
Sources
Assembly Elections: Congress appoints Baghel, Shivakumar as observers for Assam polls, Pilot for Kerala
Congress Names DK Shivakumar Assam Observer Amid Ongoing Power Struggle In Karnataka
Congress appoints 'senior observers' for poll-bound states
BJP reshuffles Bengal state unit ahead of polls
Congress appoints Shivakumar, Baghel, Tirkey as senior observers for Assam polls
Uttam Is AICC Observer for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry Assembly Polls
Buoyed by sarpanch wins, Congress rolls up sleeves for civic polls
Uttam named senior observer for TN, Puducherry Assembly polls
Assembly polls: Cong steps up alliance talks; Rahul, Priyanka may visit TN soon
‘No option but party duty’: Karnataka Dy CM Shivakumar on Assam observer role
Strong possibility of JD(S) merging with BJP in future: K'taka Dy CM Shivakumar
Being Congressman, I’ve to work for party: Shivakumar on appointment as Assam election observer
