Maharashtra: Harshwardhan Sapkal Takes Charge As Congress President, Pledges Party Revitalisation

Mumbai: Newly-appointed Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Tuesday took charge of his post and said he would work to strengthen the party's organisation in the state and bring it back to power.

Maharashtra’s political circles were surprised by the appointment of a relatively lesser-known figure, Sapkal, as the new state Congress president, sparking criticism from some supporters who expected a more prominent leader. Some staunch Congress supporters, particularly on social media, expressed frustration and publicly criticised the appointment.

Undeterred, Sapkal embraced the challenge, beginning his inaugural speech with the iconic lines, “Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil mein hai zor kitna baazue kaatil mein hai...” at an event attended by key leaders like Ramesh Chennithala, Nana Patole, and former CMs Prithviraj Chavan and Sushilkumar Shinde.

He said, “We have the leadership, but we must connect every worker and make them efficient. The battle has shifted to the streets, and it’s time to fight, not cry.” He emphasised spreading Congress ideology to every household.

Before assuming his role, Sapkal paid homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue at the Gateway of India, visited the Martyrs’ Memorial, Mani Bhavan, and Chaityabhumi in Dadar. He then formally took charge as Maharashtra Congress president from outgoing president Nana Patole at Tilak Bhavan.

Sapkal’s background has drawn considerable attention, as he breaks from the traditional politician image. At 57, he comes from a non-political family – his parents were government employees – and has emerged as a self-made leader. With the Congress party in a challenging position, Sapkal faces the formidable task of rebuilding and revitalising the party’s presence and influence.