'Eyes and ears on the ground': Congress unveils plan to expand legal wing to district level

Congress MP and senior Supreme Court lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi. (File: PTI)

• Congress to form district legal teams and state rapid response lawyer units
• AICC Law Dept to compile national member directory for states and districts.
• Congress launches legal internship for young professionals aged 21 to 28

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The Congress party has announced a major expansion of its legal apparatus, unveiling plans to set up district-level legal teams across the country and a state-wise rapid response force of senior lawyers as part of a broader organisational revamp ahead of key electoral battles.

The move will see the All India Congress Committee's (AICC) Law, Human Rights and RTI Department expanded down to the district level in every administrative unit in India. Each district unit will comprise at least five active and prominent lawyers, tasked with coordinating litigation, monitoring local legal developments and representing the party in courts.

VIDEO | Delhi: During a press conference, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) says, “The purpose of today’s brief meeting was to take forward four to five key points. The main objective was to build district-level structures where the Law, RTI, and Human Rights… pic.twitter.com/Zv31Zgp6OO

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 7, 2026

"These district units will be our eyes and ears on the ground," AICC Law Department chairman Abhishek Singhvi said, describing the initiative as part of the party's nationwide expansion programme under the leadership of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

In addition to district units, the Congress will also constitute a 'rapid response force' of leading lawyers in each state. These teams will be responsible for swiftly handling court cases involving the party, including politically sensitive litigation, emergency legal challenges and matters linked to elections, civil liberties and governance.

Singhvi said the decision was taken at a meeting of the AICC Law, Human Rights and RTI Department held on Tuesday, which was attended by senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid and 11 state-level chairpersons of the department.

Party leaders said the move was aimed at ensuring quicker legal intervention, better coordination with party units, and stronger on-ground monitoring of issues ranging from electoral disputes to alleged misuse of state machinery.

The department will also create a comprehensive, computerised national directory of all its members across states and districts.

In a parallel effort to expand its talent pool beyond traditional party structures, the Congress also announced the launch of a legal and policy internship programme for young professionals aged 21 to 28, including those not currently associated with the party.

Initially, one or two interns will be attached to each of the Congress' 127 MPs across the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, with plans to extend the programme to party MLAs in the next phase.

The expansion of the Congress' legal wing comes amid the party's increasing resistance to government actions, challenging election-related issues and investigative agency cases involving Opposition leaders.

Senior leaders have repeatedly alleged selective targeting by central agencies and said stronger legal preparedness was essential to counter what they describe as political misuse of institutions.

Party insiders said the move reflects a recognition that legal battles have become a central front in contemporary politics, particularly ahead of Assembly elections in multiple states and the 2029 Lok Sabha contest.