Pranab’s daughter joins Delhi Congress, plans to contest next assembly election

According to Congress sources, she may be fielded from Greater Kailash.

As the clamour for fresh elections in Delhi grows, a new face is set to be launched by the Congress. Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of President Pranab Mukherjee, has enrolled as a primary member of the party and is likely to be fielded in the next assembly elections in Delhi.

“I have taken membership of the party from Delhi… about a month ago,” Sharmistha told The Indian Express. Asked whether she would contest elections, she said, “That is the plan, if the party wants me to.”

According to Congress sources, she may be fielded from Greater Kailash — she did not, however, confirm this. Sources said she has been attending Delhi Congress events. Most recently, she was seen at a candlelight march organised to protest power outages in Delhi. She was present at a Congress gherao of Parliament earlier this month.

Shakeel Ahmad, AICC general secretary who is in charge of the Delhi unit, said as soon as the next PCC is constituted, Sharmistha will be accommodated in the party. “She’s an energetic young lady and understands the nitty-gritty of politics since she comes from a political family. We will be happy to use her in the Delhi elections.”

An alumna of St Stephen’s College, Sharmistha is a trained Kathak dancer. Her brother Abhijit is a Lok Sabha member from Jangipur in West Bengal.

Her decision to enter politics has already given rise to speculation in the Congress, especially among MLAs. “I’m not sure what role she will assume in Delhi but it seems she is interested in contesting elections from the state,” a senior party leader said.

Naveed Iqbal

Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies. Expertise Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics. Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers: Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state. Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights. Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More