Varsha Gaikwad, who is the first woman to become the Mumbai Congress president, said the next one-and-a-half years would be very crucial for the party

Speaking at a function after assuming the charge, Varsha Gaikwad said that when it came to appointing women to top posts, many parties do not follow it. But Congress is different. It practises what it preaches. Congress has always advocated inclusion of women in the decision-making process

"I want the party cadre to be prepared for a struggle to raise people's issues. There will be pressure to suppress us. I assure you that workers will get their dues," Varsha Gaikwad said

Varsha Gaikwad said that in order to galvanise the party workers, the district units will have to conduct workshops during the weekends and added that she will visit all the 227 wards

Varsha Gaikwad represents Dharavi - known as the country's biggest slum cluster - in the state Assembly. She replaced Bhai Jagtap as the city Congress chief