Full Breakdown
Rahul Gandhi Meets Congress Secretaries Ahead of Potential Secretariat Reshuffle
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 15, 2026, senior Congress leaders — Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and General Secretary K.C. Venugopal — met batches of All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretaries in New Delhi. The half-hour sessions were described as “interviews” to assess each secretary’s performance, the problems they face in their assigned states, and the amount of time they spend on the ground. Rahul Gandhi urged secretaries to spend at least 15 days in their respective states, emphasizing field work over Delhi-based operations.
Background & Context
The meetings come after a series of organisational changes announced by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. In the preceding weeks Kharge moved General Secretary Bhupesh Baghel from poll-bound Punjab to Assam, gave Karnataka General Secretary Randeep Surjewala additional charge of Gujarat (which will vote next year), and reassigned Punjab responsibilities to former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot. While some general secretaries and state in-charges have already been altered, the next phase is expected to involve the 56 secretaries who report to the general secretaries.
Official Statements & Responses
Several secretaries raised concerns about the lack of clearly defined duties and limited input in state-level decision-making, describing the party as “in-charge-centric.” A leader close to Rahul Gandhi countered these concerns, calling the meeting a “regular affair” and labeling the complaints of “little opportunities” as “baseless.”
Data & Statistics
- 56 AICC secretaries are slated for the upcoming reshuffle.
- Meetings lasted roughly 30 minutes per batch.
- Rahul Gandhi asked secretaries to allocate a minimum of 15 days per year to on-ground activities in their states.
- Recent reassignments include: Bhupesh Baghel -> Assam; Randeep Surjewala -> Gujarat; Sachin Pilot -> Punjab.
What’s Next
Party insiders indicate that the next reshuffle phase will formalise new responsibilities for the 56 secretaries, potentially redefining their roles in poll-bound and non-poll-bound states. The leadership plans to incorporate secretary feedback into the broader “Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan” organisational programme, though a detailed timetable has not been disclosed.