LEADERSHIP TEAM
Dr Shashi Tharoor
Chairman
An author, politician, and former international civil servant, Dr. Shashi Tharoor is a second-term Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) representing Thiruvananthapuram, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. He has previously served as Minister of State for Human Resource Development and for External Affairs in the Government of India. During his nearly three-decade long prior career at the United Nations, he served as a peacekeeper, refugee worker, and administrator at the highest levels, serving as Under-Secretary General during Kofi Annan’s leadership of the organisation. Dr. Tharoor is also an author of sixteen books of both fiction as well as non-fiction. He is also a recipient of several awards that include a Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, India’s highest honour for overseas nationals.
Salman Anees Soz
Dy. Chairman and
Regional Coordinator
North Zone
Mr. Salman Anees Soz is an international development expert and economics commentator. He is a former World Bank Group officer with experience across a range of economic development issues in countries around the world. He is also a political and social activist associated with the Indian National Congress. Mr. Soz serves as a National Media Panelist of the Congress Party. His professional interests include emerging market economics, political economy, and South Asian politics. His opinion columns appear in major media outlets. He is also a contributor to the Hudson Institute, a Washington, D.C. think-tank. Mr. Soz serves as a consultant for the World Bank Group and is a recipient of the institution’s “President’s Award for Excellence”.
E-mail : salman.soz@profcongress.com
Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand
Szarita Laitphlang
Regional Coordinator
East Zone
Ms. Szarita Laitphlang hails from the beautiful hill state of Meghalaya. She joined Indian National Congress at a very early age and is a worthy example of rising through the ranks owing to her sheer perseverance and commitment towards serving the people of this nation. She is well travelled and speaks multiple Indian languages. From the very beginning she has allied herself with the grassroots of this country and has efficiently served the people and the party at some of the toughest junctures in the past. A graduate in English Honours and Masters in Computer Application, she is currently serving as the National Media Panelist of All India Congress Committee(AICC). In the past she has held Government positions such as Vice Chairperson for Meghalaya Resources and Employment Generation Council (Government of Meghalaya) and Vice Chairperson for State Reforms Development Commission (Government of Meghalaya).
She was one of the first female candidates to be short listed during the Talent Hunt for Indian Youth Congress(IYC) across India. She has also served as the National Coordinator in-charge for North East States during her tenure with the IYC. She has served in the AICC as Election Coordinator for various Election bound States as well as War Room planner and Strategist and Assistant Pradesh Returning Officer for Organizational Elections for AICC. Within the State Congress she has served as Vice President, Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress and is currently serving as Secretary, Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee.
An IVLP Alumni (United States) she was one of the select few to have represented India as one of the observers during President Barak Obama’s Election Campaign. She has also been the Co-Chairperson for CII’s Young Indians (Meghalaya).
E-mail : szarita@profcongress.com
Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, West Bengal, Tripura, Sikkim
Rajiv Arora
Regional Coordinator
West Zone
Rajiv Arora is an entrepreneur and a political, social and cultural personality from Rajasthan. He is the co-founder of the jewellery house Amrapali Jewels. While pursuing a Political Science degree in college, he dabbled in politics as a part of the Youth Congress & NSUI. He eventually went onto complete an M.A in history and an MBA. Subsequent to his academic pursuit, he went on to start a small scale business in handicrafts. His vision and foresight eventually led him to begin creating exquisite jewellery by sourcing silver from across the country's tribal regions.
In 1978, Rajiv Arora co-founded the brand Amrapali with a close friend, Rajesh Ajmera. They travelled extensively to the interiors of the country and the habitations of different tribes to understand their culture and collect one-of-a-kind pieces of jewellery design. He revived the ancient art of handcrafted jewellery-making with the help of master craftsmen and goldsmiths in and around Jaipur setting up 3 state-of-the-art manufacturing units that provided employment to over 2000 local craftsmen.
Politics
Ex. Chairman, Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (Govt. of Rajasthan), Rajasthan State Hotels Corporation Ltd. (Govt. of Rajasthan). (Minister of State), Vice President, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee, Vice Chairman, Rajasthan Foundation ( Minister of State ), Member, Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board) (Government of India), Member, National Tourism Advisory Council (NTAC).
E-mail : rajiv.arora@profcongress.com
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Dadra-Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Madhya Pradesh
Dr Geeta Reddy
Regional Coordinator
South Zone
Dr. Geeta Reddy is an accomplished medical professional and senior politician hailing from erstwhile Andhra Pradesh and the current state of Telangana. She has served multiple terms as an MLA and Minister with cabinet rank in the Andhra Pradesh state government. During her term as the cabinet minister for Major Industries, she was instrumental in the setting up of a Mahindra and Mahindra tractor plant in her constituency (Zahirabad) which is the largest of its kind in Asia. She also played a key role in bringing a NIMZ (National Investment and Manufacturing Zone) unit to Zahirabad – Telangana which will not only led to the creation of lakhs of jobs but also stimulate local development. She also worked closely with the then Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh to setup the ‘Sri City’ project which has become a model manufacturing hub today.
Presently, Dr. Reddy is serving as an MLA from Zahirabad constituency in Telangana and as the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee in the Telangana Legislative Assembly.
Dr. Geeta Reddy is also a well-recognized philanthropist, holding numerous Directorships and board-level positions in a number of organizations dedicated to social welfare in areas ranging from Child Welfare, to Sports, to Academia.
E-mail : drjgeetareddy@profcongress.com
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Andaman and Nicobar, Goa, Lakshadweep