Natarajan had played a prominent role in the party’s 2023 Telangana election strategy
Hyderabad:The Congress high command has appointed S. Meenakshi Natarajan as AICC in-charge for Telangana affairs, replacing Deepa Dasmunsi. AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal issued the order on Friday, marking a key shift in the party's leadership structure in the state.
At 51, Natarajan is considered a key member of the AICC leadership team and is closely associated with Congress leader and Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi.
Prior to her new appointment, Natarajan had already played a prominent role in the party's Telangana strategy, having served as the AICC observer during the Telangana Assembly polls in 2023.
Her new appointment comes ahead of crucial local body elections in Telangana, where the Congress faces a tough challenge from the opposition BRS and BJP.
In 2009, Natarajan was handpicked by Gandhi to contest from Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, a seat she won with a margin of over 30,000 votes. She faced setbacks in the 2014 and 2019 general elections.
The replacement of Deepa Dasmunsi had been widely anticipated within party circles due to controversies surrounding her 14-month tenure. She was often criticised for her perceived over-interference in both party and government affairs.
Appointed after the Congress' historic victory in the Telangana Assembly elections in December 2023, which saw the party unseat the decade-long BRS government, her tenure was marked by her constant presence in Hyderabad, to the point of permanently relocating with her family.
While predecessors typically visited the city only during crucial events or elections, Dasmunsi's extended stay and close involvement in day-to-day affairs led to her being referred to in party circles as the "Viceroy," a term that invoked colonial-era British officials who held immense power.
Telangana Congress leaders reportedly grew frustrated with her approach, alleging undue influence in ministerial and governmental matters. This frustration eventually led to calls for a "grand farewell" to Dasmunsi within Congress ranks. With Natarajan's appointment, the Congress hopes to regain focus and strengthen its position in the state ahead of the upcoming local body elections.
