Former Youth Congress leaders seek postings in election year

Hyderabad: Scores of former Youth Congress members have their fingers crossed over the expansion of the PCC’s executive, with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge having promised to ensure that half of the office-bearers are aged below 50 years, in line with the Udaipur Declaration.

A senior vice-president of the Congress, requesting anonymity, said that while the process was on and applications were being received in this regard, the party’s priority is to set up 30-member mandal-level committees by the month-end.

Former Youth Congress leaders, told Deccan Chronicle that there was a need for proper work distribution within the party.

“Recently, the PCC president warned of serious action against those who continuously absent themselves at extended executive meetings. If this is the situation, why not take former youth leaders like us on board, who have sacrificed close to two decades for the party and now remain without a post? Unless the party redistributes work, the chance of winning is bleak,” a former youth leader said.

Last December, the AICC approved the constitution of an executive committee and a political committee, selecting 26 district Congress chiefs, 24 vice-presidents and 84 general secretaries. Since then, those whose names did not figure in the lists have been awaiting further expansion, with Telangana incharge Manikrao Thakre’s nod awaited for posts of 10 general secretaries, four vice-presidents and 100 secretaries.

A second former youth leader, who had served as a spokesperson, said that “his morale was down” due to not being given a post.

“Scores of former office bearers from both NSUI and Youth Congress have been ignored. Any type of post, be it secretary (if not organising secretary, for which he applied), during the election campaign will have credibility and boost morale. I hope that this time, the Udaipur Declaration and the promise made by the AICC president are implemented,” the second leader said.