After Rahul Gandhi's assessment that Congres is in close fight in Rajasthan and probably winning other states going for polls in next couple of months, the party has set up a war room in Rajasthan. Former IAS officer Sasikanth Senthil , who played a key role in Karnataka victory has been made chairman of the war room while chief Ashok Gehlot's close aide and officer on special duty Lokesh Sharma has been appointed as co-chairman. Other two co-chairmen are Shaurya Chakra recipient Captain (rtd) Arvind Kumar and Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Jaswant Gujar. Both Kumar and Gujar was considered choice of Ashok Gehlot.
Who are they?
Sasikanth Senthil
Sasikanth Senthil is a 2009 batch IAS from Karnataka cadre and a native of Tamil Nadu. He resigned from the IAS in September 2019 and a year later in November 2020 joined Congress in Tamil Nadu. He was a part of the party's war room for the 2021 Assembly polls.
He came to limelight during Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo yatra when Senthil was given task to coordinate his yatra in Karnataka. Later he was made chairman of the election war room in Karnataka. He played a key role in developing narrative against the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government.
The party's “40% commission government” campaign struck a chord with the electorate that voted out the BJP.
Congress is expecting similar efforts from Senthil. But this time a campaign and a narrative that help the party retain power in the state.
Lokesh Sharma
Lokesh Sharma is a social media expert and a close aide of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. He is serving as Officer on Special Duty in CM's office. He is responsible for Gehlot's strong presence on social media platforms. Sharma enjoys great following on social media networks including twitter and Facebook and has deep connect in youth.
Having started his political career from National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Sharma is a grass root worker. He has developed deep penetration in rural areas as well as urban areas through social media platforms. He knows the power of IT and media. He can be instrumental in devising campaigns which can have far reaching impact.
Captain Arvind Kumar
A retired Indian Army captain, Kumar is a recipient of the Shaurya Chakra and a member of the Rajasthan Sainik Kalyan Board. His father P S Jat was the president of the Sikar district Congress and unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the seat. Kumar is also the Congress in charge of the Amer and Jhotwara Assembly constituencies.
Jaswant Gurjar
Jaswant Gurjar general secretary of Pradesh Congress Committee. He also started his political career with NSUI. A former NSUI vice-president, Gurjar was also a secretary in the state unit before being elevated to the post of general secretary. He is the Congress leader in charge of Alwar district at present.
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