Youth Congress election in Rajasthan may be held after assembly polls

The Youth Congress election in the state, scheduled for May this year, is likely to be postponed again. 

The development comes after state leaders requested the central leadership to either postpone or cancel the organisation election as it could bring the internal strife to the fore ahead of the assembly polls slated for the year-end.  

The leaders suggested that the organisation election could also intensify factionalism in the state’s youth brigade and this could play spoilsport and hamper the party’s prospects during the state polls. 

“Who wins or loses in the election is not a concern of the party’s senior leaders, but the losers are hardly going to work for the party. This can wean away youth voters at colleges and universities where the Congress is strong. We have communicated this to the central leadership,” said a senior leader of the party. 

The Youth Congress election was not held since 2013, and Ashok Chandna, who is an MLA, has been leading the wing in Rajasthan. In February this year, the party kicked off a membership drive, which resulted in induction of 20 lakh primary members and five lakh active members. Sources said that Chandna wants to avoid the organisation election before the assembly election, while leaders like Sumit Bhagasara, Mukesh Bhakar and Pramendra Sihag, who wish to contest for the president’s post, want the organisation election early.  If the party goes ahead with the youth wing election, then there are high chances of a new president taking over office.  “There is no issue with organisation election and it will take place on the scheduled dates. We have inducted five lakh active and 20 lakh primary members in the campaign launched in February this year,” said Chandna, rejecting reports of postponement of the election. 

Not Held Since 2013

• The Youth Congress election was not held since 2013, and Ashok Chandna, who is an MLA, has been leading the wing in Rajasthan. 
• In February this year, the party kicked off a membership drive, which resulted in induction of 20 lakh primary members and five lakh active members.