Congress appoints Kunwar Singh Nishad as UP media chief, steps up Dalit-MBC outreach ahead of 2027 polls

As Uttar Pradesh gears up for the 2027 Assembly elections, India's Congress party has made a strategic move to strengthen its outreach among Dalits and Most Backward Classes (MBCs). The Congress has appointed Kunwar Singh Nishad as the chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee’s Media and Publicity Department, a role intended to provide a voice to the Nishad community in the party.

This appointment was approved by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on September 17, following the recent selection of Rajendra Pal Gautam as AICC general secretary for Uttar Pradesh. Nishad, originally from Mathura, has a history with the BJP but switched to the Congress in 2022 under Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's campaign. As a Congress spokesperson in Uttar Pradesh, his new role as Media chief positions him to play a pivotal role in the party's efforts to connect with non-Yadav OBC communities.

The Nishad community, like others in the MBC groups, has been a key focus for political mobilisation in the state, with multiple parties vying for their support. The Congress now faces the challenge of translating these organisational changes into a stronger grassroots presence before the upcoming polls.