Amit Chavda Appointed New Gujarat Congress Chief After Shaktisinh Gohil’s Resignation

Weeks after the Gujarat Congress faced setbacks in the Assembly bypolls, the party appointed senior leader Amit Chavda as the new president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC).

His appointment follows the resignation of Shaktisinh Gohil, who stepped down after the Congress failed to win either of the two constituencies contested last month.

K.C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary (organisation), confirmed in a statement that Chavda has been appointed with immediate effect.

The party also named former Union Minister Dr. Tushar Chaudhary as the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in the Gujarat Assembly, replacing Chavda in that role.

“The party appreciates the contributions of outgoing PCC president Shaktisinh Gohil,” Venugopal said.

Chavda Reacts to Appointment

Reacting to his reappointment, Chavda posted on X, “This is not just a post — it is a solemn responsibility to fight for every Gujarati and uphold the values the Congress Party stands for.”

He added, “As a devoted soldier of the party, I will work day and night to strengthen @INCGujarat, fulfill the aspirations of our people, and realise the vision of @RahulGandhi ji in Gujarat.”

This marks Chavda’s second term as state party president, signaling a move back to experienced leadership as Congress attempts to revive its position in Gujarat.

Tushar Chaudhary to Lead Opposition

Dr. Tushar Chaudhary, a tribal leader and former Union Minister, has been appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly. He replaces Chavda, who earlier held the role.

The appointments were seen as part of the Congress party’s effort to counter its downward electoral trajectory and re-establish a foothold in the state.

Leadership Reshuffles Amid Ongoing Setbacks

Shaktisinh Gohil, who was appointed GPCC president in June 2023, resigned hours after the bypoll results from Kadi and Visavadar were declared. Shailesh Parmar had been managing affairs as acting president since Gohil’s exit.

Chavda’s reappointment is the outcome of a high-level meeting in Delhi on July 10, where several senior Gujarat Congress leaders were summoned to discuss leadership changes.

Other contenders included Geniben Thakor and Lalji Desai, but the leadership ultimately went back to Chavda.

This is not the first time Congress has reshuffled its leadership in quick succession. Jagdish Thakor had stepped down after the party’s 2022 Assembly election defeat, leading to Gohil’s appointment, whose term also proved brief.

Congress’s Electoral Slide in Gujarat

The Congress’s performance in Gujarat has been steadily declining for over a decade. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, it won 11 of 26 seats with a 44% vote share, trailing the BJP by just 3.5 per cent.

However, the BJP swept all 26 seats in both the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, expanding its vote share margin over Congress to over 30 per cent by 2019. In 2024, Congress managed to win only one seat, signaling minimal recovery.

In state politics, the Congress has not come to power since 1995 and has suffered defeats in every Assembly election since then, including in 1998, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, and 2022.

Hope for Revival with Veteran Leaders

The party is now banking on the combined political experience of Amit Chavda and Tushar Chaudhary to help halt the party’s decline and rebuild grassroots strength.

However, the challenges remain steep with a weakened cadre, diminishing voter base, and a strong BJP presence in the state.

Additional Appointments and Delhi Consultations

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has also appointed Challa Vamshi Chand Reddy as the in-charge of the party’s organisation department.

He will oversee the selection of District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents and gather feedback on their performance.

Last week, the Congress high command invited more than a dozen senior Gujarat leaders to Delhi, including Amit Chavda, to meet with Rahul Gandhi and Gujarat in-charge Mukul Wasnik.

Leaders present included Bharat Solanki, Ami Yagnik, Jagadish Thakor, Shailesh Parmar, Geniben Thakor, and Jignesh Mevani.

Chavda’s Political Background

Chavda, the current MLA from Anklav, has represented the constituency since 2012. He earlier served as GPCC president from 2018 to 2021 and later became the CLP leader in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.

His return is viewed as a strategic move to consolidate experienced leadership in hopes of reviving the party’s electoral chances in the state.