New Delhi:
When the BJP was going through a bitter divorce with their 17-year-old ally in Bihar, the Congress party announced its new team for Mission 2014 - perhaps to signal that the party is ready for the challenge.
"Congress president has named new members to the Congress working committee, office bearers and also have given out work allocation," announced Janardhan Dwivedi, who is no longer the head of media but continues to be a general secretary.
The party revamp seemed to have a clear imprint of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi. Ajay Maken and CP Joshi, the two ministers who resigned from the UPA government on Saturday, were drafted into the party. (
Congress announces key organisational changes: Full list)
Mr Maken will be the new face of the Congress media wing, meanwhile, former Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni has made a strong comeback into the party fold. She will now work closely with Sonia Gandhi as in-charge of the Congress President's office.
Another person who has got a huge leg up is Madhusudan Mistry. The low profile Congress leader from Gujarat will now be in-charge of Uttar Pradesh and work closely with Rahul Gandhi. Interestingly, being a Gujarati, Mr Mistry is familiar with the working styles of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, BJP's UP in-charge. Mr Mistry also had a successful stint as the party's general secretary of Karnataka where Congress romped home victorious.
Digvijaya Singh has been given the task of handling one of the most challenging states. As in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Mr Singh will be handling the Telangana issue.
Of the 42 secretaries appointed in Congress' new team, many are close to Rahul Gandhi. Jagdish Tytler, who is facing a fresh CBI inquiry for his role in 1984 anti-Sikh riots, has been dropped. And so have the other non-performers who looked after states like Goa, Punjab and Bihar.
Five months after Rahul Gandhi was appointed as vice-president, Congress carried out the organisation revamp to prepare for Lok Sabha elections. But this is part one, next round is on Monday with the induction of new faces in Manmohan Singh cabinet.