New Delhi: In a significant organizational overhaul aimed at rejuvenating the party’s base ahead of the 2028 assembly elections, the Congress is planning to replace more than 50 per cent of its district presidents in Madhya Pradesh by mid-May.
The decision comes after the party’s mixed performance in the 2023 assembly elections, which saw the Bharatiya Janata Party retaining power in the state. According to sources, several district presidents were appointed on the recommendation of then state unit president Kamal Nath.
The Congress wants to infuse new energy into the party’s state unit and make it aligned with the state leadership, especially after receiving feedback about the lack of grassroots connectivity in several districts.
Congress spokesperson (Madhya Pradesh) Mithun Singh Ahirwar says the district presidents will be given tasks to implement it on the ground with accountability. "The party has also given them a right to recommend in ticket distribution," Mithun adds, "It has always happened in the party, we have always consulted them. But, this time the difference is that there will be monitoring."
This sweeping move is also seen as part of the broader strategy to counter the BJP’s organizational prowess, which has remained robust across Madhya Pradesh’s urban and rural constituencies. "We have made a department of ‘Performance and monitoring’; in one particular area, each district president will be responsible for election outcomes," says Mithun.
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According to party leaders, there are around 65 district presidents in the state. In Madhya Pradesh, there are 55 districts but few are large ones, a party leader said, "which usually have two district presidents, one is urban president and another is rural."
However, much will depend on how effectively the party manages this large-scale reshuffle and whether the new appointees can galvanize support at the grassroots level.
