CWC meeting to discuss 2026 poll strategy, action against Centre over G RAM G law

Senior Congress leaders on Saturday took part in a key meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s top decision-making forum, to review the prevailing political situation ahead of next year’s multi-state Assembly elections and to formulate a response to the Centre’s decision to repeal the UPA-era rural employment scheme, MGNREGA.

The party is discussing its course of action following the replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, with the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act.

The extended CWC meeting is being attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, along with chief ministers from Congress-governed states such as Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh. State unit chiefs of the Pradesh Congress Committees are also participating, TNIE reported.

With Assembly elections scheduled next year in Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, leaders are expected to deliberate on the party’s electoral preparations and overall strategy.

The Congress is also working towards finalising an action plan to challenge the government over the repeal of MGNREGA. The new VB-G RAM G legislation was cleared during the recent winter session of Parliament and has since received the President’s assent.

The party, along with other opposition groups, has criticised the new law, arguing that dropping Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the employment scheme undermines his legacy.

Under the revised legislation, rural households are to be assured up to 125 days of wage employment in a financial year for adults willing to perform unskilled manual work. Unlike the earlier centrally funded scheme, the new programme предусматривает shared funding between the Centre and states in a 60:40 ratio.