Exclusive: The Faces Behind Rahul Gandhi’s Kitchen Cabinet – Who Holds the Key Now?

Unlock the exclusive insights into Rahul Gandhi's inner circle post Milind's departure. Discover the key figures shaping his political journey as we delve into the revamped kitchen cabinet. Get ready for an in-depth analysis of the power players who now hold the reins of influence.

Rahul Gandhi’s kitchen cabinet, then and now

After becoming the General Secretary of Congress in 2008, Rahul Gandhi started forming his team. This team of Rahul was quite different from Sonia Gandhi’s old team. Except Digvijay Singh, all the faces in the team were new. 

According to news agency PTI, Rahul Gandhi’s team at that time included leaders like Meenakshi Natarajan, Sachin Pilot, Digvijay Singh, Jitin Prasad, Jyotiraditya Scindia and RPN Singh. 

In the political circles of Congress, this team of Rahul Gandhi is also known as Rahul Brigade.

Interestingly, most of the people of Rahul Brigade were either from some royal family or some political family. Most of the leaders of Rahul Kitchen cabinet were also included in Manmohan cabinet and Congress defended it by calling it balance. 

Those who could not join the cabinet got bigger responsibilities in the organization. In 2013, India Today magazine did a report on Rahul Gandhi’s team. It was said in this report that Rahul Gandhi’s team has taken command in 2014. Many old leaders are unhappy with this.

Separated in the days of struggle

Congress was badly defeated in the 2014 elections. The blame for the defeat was placed on Rahul Gandhi and his team. Jayanti Natarajan, who was a minister in the Manmohan cabinet, left the party in 2015 and made many political allegations against Rahul Gandhi.

Natarajan said that Rahul’s team first interfered in his work and then he was humiliated. Since 2014, Congress has lost about 39 elections. These also include the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Many big faces of Congress could not win in the 2019 elections. Rahul Gandhi himself lost the election from Amethi.

After 2019, the Rahul brigade started leaving Congress. First Jyotiraditya Scindia then Jitin Prasad and then RPN Singh left Congress. These three leaders joined BJP.

Recently Milind Deora has left Congress and joined Shiv Sena. Deora has been a minister at the Center and after becoming the national president, Rahul Gandhi made him the president of Mumbai Congress. Presently he was the joint treasurer.

Everyone has the same argument – Rahul Gandhi does not listen

From Jyotiraditya Scindia to Milind Deora… after leaving Congress, everyone has the same argument – Rahul Gandhi does not listen. Nor can we contact them. 

According to Congress sources, Milind Deora wanted to talk to Rahul Gandhi before leaving Congress. Deora wanted concrete assurance from Rahul regarding his traditional South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. It is being said that this seat will go to Shiv Sena’s account in the alliance. 

After not being able to contact Rahul, Deora decided to leave the party. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh has also confirmed that Milind wanted to talk to Rahul at the last moment. 

Why are the leaders of Rahul Brigade running away from Congress?

1. According to Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, leaders are changing sides due to personal interests. The party doesn’t have much to offer right now. In such a situation, selfish leaders are leaving the party. 
2. Two years ago, in a meeting of Youth Congress, Rahul Gandhi had told the leaders that many big leaders do not want to fight. In this situation, you people have a future. Rahul said that we will not stop the leaders from leaving.
3. According to Congress sources, earlier members of Rahul Gandhi’s kitchen cabinet left the party because they were not fitting into the new equation. After 2019, Rahul Gandhi’s core team has become dominated by other leaders.

Who is currently in Rahul Gandhi’s kitchen cabinet?

KC Venugopal-The biggest name among those close to the former Congress President is that of Organization General Secretary KC Venugopal. Venugopal, who comes from Kerala, has also been a minister in the Manmohan Singh government. After the 2019 elections, Rahul Gandhi resigned from his post as president, but Venugopal remained as the organization’s general secretary.

After Mallikarjun Kharge became the President, there was talk of changing the General Secretary of the organization, but Venugopal did not budge. The post of General Secretary is the second most important post within the Congress organization.

Ajay Maken- Maken, the treasurer of Congress, had joined Rahul Gandhi’s core team in 2012 itself, since then he has been a member of the kitchen cabinet. Maken has also been the General Secretary of Rajasthan.

Rahul had deployed his two old close leaders Vijay Inder Singhala and Milind Deora in Ajay Maken’s team, but Deora left Congress and joined Shiv Sena.

Jairam Ramesh-The communication department of Congress is currently with Jairam Ramesh. Ramesh had joined Rahul Gandhi’s kitchen cabinet in 2009 itself. However, after 2014, he remained on the sidelines for a few years.

Ramesh is currently responsible for media, social media and outreach communication. 

Manikam Tagore- Manikam Tagore, MP from Virudhanagar Lok Sabha seat of Tamil Nadu, is also a member of Rahul Gandhi’s kitchen cabinet. Tagore currently has the charge of Andhra. Before this he had the charge of Telangana. 

Sunil Kanugolu- Election strategist Sunil Kanugolu is also a part of Rahul Gandhi’s kitchen cabinet. Kanugolu has made a strategy for Karnataka and Telangana elections, where the party got a bumper victory. 

Kanugolu is also a member of the Congress Task Force for 2024.