Sachin Pilot Likely to Be Appointed Congress In-Charge for Gujarat; Current In-Charge Mukul Wasnik, Other Past Leaders Noted

Ahmedabad: In a significant political development, Rajasthan’s former Deputy Chief Minister, Sachin Pilot, is emerging as a strong contender to take charge of the Congress party in Gujarat. The party is reportedly considering this move to strengthen its presence in the state ahead of crucial municipal elections in major cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Rajkot, seen as a semi-final for the 2027 assembly polls.

Currently, Mukul Wasnik, a Rajya Sabha member, serves as the state in-charge, while the party leadership in Gujarat rests with Amit Chavda, and Dr. Tushar Chaudhary leads the legislative party in the assembly. Political circles say the idea of appointing Pilot came to the forefront after top Gujarat Congress leaders visited Delhi for discussions with the central leadership.

Rajasthan Leaders Have Previously Led Gujarat

The possibility of Pilot’s appointment follows a historical pattern where leaders from Rajasthan have successfully managed Gujarat affairs. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his close aide Raghu Sharma have previously served as state in-charges. Notably, during the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, when Congress curtailed the BJP to 99 seats, Gehlot was the in-charge.

Other leaders who have held the post in recent years include:

• Rajeev Satav
• Gurudas Kamat

Team Deployed in Gujarat

To build a “new Congress” in Gujarat, following instructions from Rahul Gandhi, the party has deployed several key leaders. While Mukul Wasnik serves as the AICC General Secretary in-charge, Ramkishan Ojha, Subhashini Yadav, Devendra Yadav, and B.V. Srinivas act as secretaries on the ground. Earlier, leaders like Usha Naidu and B.M. Sandeep also served as AICC secretaries in Gujarat.

Political analysts suggest that appointing Pilot could inject fresh energy into the party, as he enjoys a strong following among young voters. Congress currently holds just 1 seat in Gujarat’s 26 Lok Sabha constituencies and 12 members in the 182-member assembly. In the 2022 elections, the party had won 17 seats, though five MLAs have since defected.