Congress plumps for young faces in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress party has concluded that young blood should be infused into its leadership to revive its electoral fortunes. The elders suggest 50 percent posts reserved for them, but the youngsters are apprehensive.

Earlier, they had earmarked 30 percent seats for youth leaders at various levels, but that rarely followed. Now they are convinced that if the party has to bounce back, it needs the young blood. 

Thampanoor Ravi, the organisational general secretary, said the party as such had not decided to increase the quota.

“We will try our level best to rope in as many talented youngsters. We aim to bring in maximum new faces including women and Dalits,” he told DC.

Some youth leaders say the seniors are "notorious for failing in their promises." Others beg to differ. 

M. Liju, Alappuzha DCC president, said when the DCC presidents were appointed last year, 45 percent of them were youth leaders.

“It is a false notion that the Congress had not considered the youth leaders," says the 37-year-old. 

The DCC presidents include Hakkim Kunnel (38), Kasaragod, T. Siddique (43), Kozhikode, V. K. Sreekandan (47), Palakkad, Ibrahim Kutty Kallar (39), Idukki, I.C. Balakrishnan (42), Wayanad, Bindu Krishna, 44, Kollam, and Satheesan Pacheni (49), Kannur. Similarly, he says, out of 22 Congress legislators, 13 are youngsters.