Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to Head Congress Screening Committee for Assam Assembly Elections

The Indian National Congress has appointed senior party leader and Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the chairperson of the screening committee for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, signalling a renewed strategic push by the party in the northeastern state.
The decision was announced by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) as part of its preparations for the 2026 Assembly polls. The screening committee will be responsible for shortlisting and vetting candidates for the elections before forwarding its recommendations to the party’s Central Election Committee for final approval.
Along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the four-member panel includes Congress leaders Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Imran Masood and Sirivella Prasad. The committee is expected to work closely with the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) leadership to assess potential candidates, taking into account winnability, organisational strength and social representation.
Party sources said the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra underscores the Congress leadership’s intent to give greater national-level attention to Assam, where the party is seeking to regain lost ground against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance. The move is also seen as an effort to strengthen internal coordination and ensure a more rigorous candidate selection process.
The Assam Assembly has 126 seats, and the elections are expected to be held in early 2026. The Congress is likely to explore alliances with regional and opposition parties as part of its electoral strategy in the state.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is also the Congress general secretary, has played a key role in the party’s organisational affairs and election campaigns in several states. Her leadership of the Assam screening committee is being viewed by political observers as a significant step in shaping the party’s campaign and candidate lineup ahead of the crucial polls.
Further announcements regarding campaign committees and election strategy are expected in the coming weeks as the Congress steps up preparations for the Assam elections.