Guwahati: Congress Screening Committee Chairperson and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived in Assam on Thursday for a two-day visit, underscoring the party’s central leadership push ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections.
On arrival at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, APCC president Gaurav Gogoi said the visit would allow grassroots party workers and block-level leaders to voice their concerns directly to the central leadership. “Whenever the party’s top leadership comes in, there is enthusiasm among workers. But during large meetings, they don’t get a chance to speak. Today, our block presidents and grassroots workers will be able to express their heartfelt views. It is a huge responsibility Priyanka Gandhi has taken,” he said.
Soon after landing, Gandhi visited the Kamakhya Temple to offer prayers before proceeding to Rajiv Bhawan, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) headquarters on GS Road, where she began extensive meetings related to candidate screening. Gogoi described the visit as spiritual and meaningful, expressing hope that Gandhi’s objectives for the two-day trip would be fulfilled.
At Rajiv Bhawan, Gandhi was welcomed with traditional khol and taal performances and was accompanied by senior leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia, Gogoi, and AICC general secretary in charge of Assam, Jitendra Singh.
The screening meetings, part of the Congress’s candidate selection process for the Assembly polls, are expected to involve members of Block Congress Committees, Zilla Congress Committees, APCC office-bearers, frontal organisations, and various cells and departments. Sources indicated the sessions could extend up to 12 hours.
Gogoi noted that while he had previously overseen screening responsibilities, this was the first time Gandhi would personally dedicate long hours to listening to representatives across organisational levels, reflecting the central leadership’s seriousness about Assam elections. Singh described the exercise as the first structured screening of its kind in the state, adding that Gandhi would return multiple times before the polls to assess public sentiment and strengthen coordination within the party.
The Congress aims to complete the screening process swiftly, with the first phase of the Assembly candidates’ list expected by the end of February following consultations with the central leadership.