The front-runners for the top post are Balasaheb Thorat’s nephew Satyajit and Patangrao Kadam’s son Vishwajit.
The elections for the Maharashtra Youth Congress president on September 18 and 19 are heading for a big battle with political daddies engaged in intense lobbying to get their candidate to win the post.
What makes the contest so intense is the presence of Vishwajeet Kadam, son of minister for forests Patangrao Kadam, and Satyajit Tambe, nephew of minister for revenue, Balasaheb Thorat.
Both Kadam and Tambe, who have hit the roads hopping districts to mobilise political support, are also seeking the help of experienced leaders to work behind the curtains to ensure their success.
Thorat, who is considered second-in-command among cabinet ministers representing Congress, is using his goodwill to elicit support from various sections across state.
Senior Kadam, who is also a seasoned Congress leader, is also going the extra mile to fetch the clout for his son. The contest is now veering around a Thorat camp versus Kadam camp making the elections a prestige issue in the faction-ridden party.
The election result is scheduled on September 20.
The presence of Tambe and Kadam in the fray has re-established the fact that the Congress cannot break itself free from the shackles of dynasty cult.
But, state Congress president Manikrao Thakre counter-argued: "While they may have the political family background, they have also been working in the party for several years. Moreover, they have to prove themselves in the elections."
The opposition, which often accused Nehru-Gandhi family of promoting dynasty culture, have come to terms with the concept as the children of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena have also taken plunge in politics.
“There were several serious contenders for the Maharashtra Youth Congress president’s post especially after All India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi gave a clarion call to generation next to join politics. Gandhi's emphasise on the youth wing has given a new boost to the post," said a Congress party worker, requesting anonymity.
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