Senior Indian National Congress leader and former All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Deepak Babaria passed away, prompting an outpouring of grief from the party's top leadership on Saturday, 10 October 2026. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra each paid tribute to the Gujarat-born organisational stalwart, describing his death as an irreplaceable loss to the Congress family.

What Congress Leaders Said

In a post on social media platform X, Kharge described Babaria as 'a dedicated Congressman known for his simplicity, sincerity, and unwavering commitment to Congress ideology.' He noted that Babaria had begun his political journey by championing workers' rights and raising his voice for labourers and trade unions. 'His demise is a profound loss to the Congress party,' Kharge said, extending condolences to Babaria's family, friends, and colleagues.

Rahul Gandhi called the death 'an irreparable loss to the Congress family,' adding that 'Babaria's dedication to the organisation and his contribution to strengthening the party would always be remembered.' He offered his condolences to the bereaved family, colleagues, and supporters.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra described the news as 'deeply saddening' and prayed for peace for the departed soul. She called Babaria 'a dedicated soldier of the Congress party and its ideology.'

Who Was Deepak Babaria

Babaria was a senior Congress leader from Gujarat who held several key organisational responsibilities at the national level. He served as AICC general secretary in charge of Madhya Pradesh and was also entrusted with responsibilities in Haryana and Delhi. Before his elevation to general secretary, he served as an AICC secretary, with his work centred on coordinating the party's organisational affairs and strengthening its structure across states.

His Role in Congress's 2018 Madhya Pradesh Victory

Babaria played a significant role in the Congress organisation in Madhya Pradesh ahead of the 2018 Assembly elections, when the party returned to power in the state after 15 years. That electoral comeback remains one of the more notable organisational achievements of the Congress in recent years, and insiders credit Babaria's ground-level coordination as a key factor.

His political career was rooted in workers' issues and trade union concerns — a thread that ran through his entire public life, from his early activism to his tenure as a national office-bearer.

Tributes Pour In

Babaria's death has prompted widespread tributes from Congress leaders across the country, who remembered his service to the party and his quiet but consistent commitment to its ideology. This comes amid a period when the Congress is rebuilding its organisational strength ahead of several state assembly elections, making the loss of a seasoned organisational hand particularly significant for the party.