Youth Cong elections turn bloody before Punjab polls

In a complaint addressed to Indian Youth Congress president Rajeev Satav,Kamra,who lost the polls in the counting held on Friday evening,alleged interference of office bearers,president and members of Block Congress Committee and former MLA Mohinder Rinwa on the polling day. “This is against the ideals of Rahul Gandhi who said the youth congress elections will be truly democratic and without any interference of the senior Congress. But Rinwa,who is also a delegate of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Commitee (PPCC) openly met the returning officers on the polling day,” he said.

The promise of more tickets for youth has deepened the infighting in the party ahead of the crucial state polls as many of those in the fray are kin of former ministers,sitting and former MLAs and party office bearers. Apprehensions to this extent was expressed by both,Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh and outgoing Youth Congress president Ravneet Singh Bittu,while requesting the IYC to postpone YC polls till the state elections.

Of the 19 in poll fray,four are sons of former ministers – Gurchet Bhullar’s son Sukhpal Bhullar,Chaudhary Sanokh Singh’s son Vikram Chaudhary,Sardool Singh’s son Sukhwinder Singh Danny and Jagmohan Kang’s son Yadwinder Kang. Two are sons of sitting MLAs,Kuldeep Bhattal’s son Gurbir Bhattal and Darshan Brar’s son,Kamaljit Brar while Deepender Randhawa is the grandson of former PPCC president Santokh Randhawa.

Where family lineage isn’t playing a role,patronage is. Most sitting and former MLAs,MPs and office bearers are supporting one of the candidates in their respective segments. However,IYC president Rajeev Satav refutes any contention on timing of the Youth Congress polls. “The Youth Congress poll will help bring new leadership and new army of youth workers ahead of the Assembly elections,” he said.

“We have requested the senior Congress to give more representation to youth in all the poll-bound states. Even in the Assembly elections for five states this year a total of 44 nominees of the Youth Congress contested the polls and 23 of them emerged victorious,” he added.

On nepotism,he said a majority of those elected as office bearers have non-political background. “Those who have worked hard with dedication are elected. Such people in both outgoing and upcoming teams of Youth Congress will get tickets for state polls,” Satav said.

Punjab’s outgoing YC president Ravneet Singh Bittu is late chief minister Beant Singh’s grandson,neighbouring Haryana’s YC president,Chiranjeevi Yadav,is son of minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav and in Himachal,Vikaramaditya Singh,son of Union Minister Virbhadra Singh has been elected president of the state Youth Congress after he defeated son of a former minister and sitting MLA,G S Bali.