AICC sets age limit for district presidents in Himachal

In an effort to streamline and energise its organisational structure, the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) has fixed the age limit for district presidents between 35 and 60 years. The announcement, made by AICC secretary Jitendra Baghel during a press interaction in Solan on Wednesday, has disappointed several aspirants who had hoped to secure the post.

Baghel held meetings with party leaders from the Solan and Kandaghat blocks, seeking their inputs on reconstituting district and block-level bodies that have remained inactive for a year following the dissolution of the previous committee. This marks the third attempt by the AICC to revive its grassroots organisational framework.

The exercise has gathered momentum after the recent appointment of Vinay Kumar as Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president. Baghel said he would also consult members of civil society, including resident welfare associations, lawyers, auto operators and trader unions, to assess public perception of potential leaders and their connect with the masses. The goal, he noted, is to identify a dynamic, people-backed district leader capable of strengthening the party’s presence.

During his four-day visit, Baghel is scheduled to meet Vidhan Sabha candidates, former MLAs, civic body representatives and board chairpersons across all five Assembly segments — Kasauli, Solan, Arki, Doon and Nalagarh.

Whether this round of consultations will finally pave the way for reorganising district and block committees remains uncertain; a similar exercise in 2024 had yielded no result. While many Congress leaders are optimistic, concerns persist over whether genuine public opinion will prevail or proximity to senior leadership will override grassroots feedback.

The Congress currently holds a dominant position in Solan district, controlling all five Vidhan Sabha seats and key civic bodies in Solan, Baddi, Nalagarh, Arki and Parwanoo. With civic and panchayat elections approaching, reconstituting the organisational setup has become crucial to reinvigorate party cadres.