Congress constitutes 16-member election panel ahead of key assembly polls; Kharge, Rahul among members

The panel re-drafted the names of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Ambika Soni from earlier committee, while others made way for new leaders this time.

Published on: Sep 4, 2023, 21:06:58 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Congress on Monday announced the party's central election committee comprising of 16 members including senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, ahead of key assembly elections in several states and 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge with party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi (Hindustan Times)

The new panel omitted names of seven leaders from the outgoing 11-member committee, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union minister AK Antony.

Also read: Congress plans massive rally, CWC meeting ahead of Telangana polls

The committee is tasked with making final selection of Congress' candidates for the state and Lok Sabha elections and conducting poll campaigns.

The panel also has veteran leaders Madhusudan Mistry and Ambika Soni along with leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and All India Congress Committee general secretary KC Venugopal. It also has former Union minister Salman Khurshid, Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister TS Singh Deo, Karnataka minister KJ George and Lok Sabha MP Uttam Kumar Reddy.

Deo and PL Punia, who earlier missed the membership of the high-powered panel, made into the committee this time.

Elections are going be held for assemblies in states including Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.