Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal on Monday, 21 September 2026, chaired a detailed review meeting with Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President and senior party leaders in Jaipur to assess the party's performance in the recently concluded Urban Local Body (ULB) elections and to map out preparations for the upcoming Panchayati Raj polls. The session marked one of the most significant post-election stocktaking exercises by the Congress in Rajasthan since the party lost the state assembly in 2023.

ULB Election Performance Under the Lens

Leaders conducted a granular review of the Urban Local Body election results, examining the party's functioning across districts and incorporating feedback from local workers and district units. The meeting identified specific areas requiring organisational attention and corrective intervention before the next electoral cycle. Concerns and reported instances regarding the conduct of the administration and police during the ULB elections were also raised and deliberated upon in detail, with complaints from candidates, workers and local leaders placed before the leadership.

Panchayati Raj Polls: The Road Ahead

Preparations for the Panchayati Raj elections formed the second major agenda of the review. Senior leaders discussed mechanisms to strengthen the Congress organisation at the grassroots level, improve coordination among party functionaries, and energise local units across districts, blocks and panchayats. Emphasis was placed on effective mobilisation and tighter coordination ahead of the polls — a critical requirement given that rural Rajasthan has historically determined the state's electoral arithmetic.

Organisational Priorities and Grassroots Focus

The review highlighted the importance of district-level coordination and block-level worker engagement as the party seeks to rebuild momentum after a challenging ULB cycle. Notably, this comes at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Rajasthan is in its early years in power, and the Congress is working to consolidate its opposition presence at every tier of local governance. The internal exercise signals that the party's central leadership under Venugopal is closely monitoring state-level performance rather than leaving organisational course-correction solely to the PCC.

What This Means for Congress in Rajasthan

Rajasthan has been a traditional swing state, alternating between the BJP and Congress in assembly elections. A strong showing in Panchayati Raj polls would allow the Congress to rebuild its rural cadre and demonstrate a recovery narrative. The review meeting reflects the party's awareness that grassroots organisation — not just leadership optics — will be decisive in the next state election cycle. All eyes will now be on whether the directives issued at Monday's meeting translate into tangible organisational action on the ground.