Storms CPM bastion,charms youth in Bolpur

During an interactive session to shorlist “potential poll candidates”,a 22-year-old ‘political aspirant’ asked Rahul: “How I can associate myself with politics? The reply from Rahul was obvious: “Come and contest the Youth Congress election.” Prior to attending a meeting of freshers,Rahul met elected around 740 representatives of the Congress in three districts,Burdwan,Birbhum and Murshidabad.

Rahul asked the party workers if it would be possible to unseat the Left Front government. The audience replied: “This is possible but without an alliance,this change will not happen. We want an alliance with the Trinamool Congress with respect and regard.” “There will be a respectful alliance,” Rahul replied. Rahul said the Congress follows a rule of internal democracy and no other party can give such a democratic atmosphere to its workers.

Kulwant Rai Singla,Congress MP from Bhatinda camping here for the past two-and-half-months to identify young,talented people who can join the Congress,told The Indian Express that the Bolpur meeting was one of the most politically successful. Ninety per cent of those who interacted with Rahul were freshers,in the age group of 20-25 years. The process of selecting young talents started two months ago. Singla said,they met people at the grass roots level and held group meetings in every assembly segment under seven parliamentary constituencies. The talent search was a crucial job for them,claimed Singla. “We have to choose potential Lok Sabha candidates from these people,” said Singla. The meeting with freshers at the local auditorium in Bolpur was unlike other public meetings. The young men and women came from several Lok Sabha constituencies,including Birbhum,Bolpur,Burdwan,Durgapur,Burdwan (East) Murshidabad and Jangipur. Among these,the Congress has won two,the TMC won one and the rest won by the CPM in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

“The response at the grass roots level was excellent. It was a sign of change,” said Singla. “Go to the people,understand their problem. There are many social issues,be aware of these issues and put pressure on the government to solve problems of the masses” Rahul gandhi,When asked how a Youth Congress worker can serve people