Congress appoints Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to head its Assam election screening committee as the party gears up for the 2026 Assembly polls.

The Indian National Congress has appointed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as chairperson of its screening committee for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, signalling a strategic push ahead of the 2026 polls. She will be joined on the panel by senior leaders including Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka and Imran Masood, tasked with finalising candidates for the state.

The decision comes amid challenging projections for the party, with recent surveys indicating a strong advantage for the BJP-led alliance in the 126-member Assembly. Assam remains a key battleground, currently governed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, whose leadership has given the ruling alliance significant momentum.

The screening committee’s mandate extends beyond Assam, covering candidate selection in states such as Kerala and West Bengal as well, where elections are expected in the March–April 2026 window.

Analysis: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s elevation suggests Congress is centralising leadership decisions to sharpen its electoral focus. With opinion polls indicating an uphill battle, candidate selection and grassroots mobilisation may prove decisive in shaping the party’s revival efforts