The young Turks in Congress party have raised a banner of revolt against the old war horses to ensure a better pie in the impending organisational reshuffle and Assembly elections thats a year away. Addressing an organisational function recently,National Students Union president Hybi Eden asked the greying and exhausted leaders to quit and hand over the baton to young leaders. Youth Congress state president M Liju demanded that seasoned leaders either move out or get ready for a contest with the young leaders. A group of leaders has been sitting pretty as legislators in their respective constituencies for several decades. Some of them had begun their winning spree at the age of 25. Taking advantage of the alibi of sitting legislators,they have been regularly bagging tickets during elections. How then will the new generation grow in parliamentary politics? asked Liju,adding that the leadership was reluctant to go for an organisational poll,fearing that it may cost them their positions. The outburst of the YC leadership stems from two factors. The YC state leadership of the last two terms has failed to make its way into the leadership of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee. The former YC leaders,led by K P Anil Kumar and T Sidique,are still languishing in the periphery of the party. The YC wants those leaders to be accommodated in the organisational shuffle. Also,there are senior Congress leaders who have converted safe seats into their pocket boroughs. During the distribution of tickets,the party gave preference to these middle-aged and elderly leaders. In next years Assembly elections,the YC wants them to retire. KPCC spokesperson M M Hassan said the issue has emerged from the delay in conducting organisational polls. We all came to the Congress leadership by proving our merit and strength during the KSU and the YC days. Instead of going to the public with their demand,the young leaders should prove their mettle, he said.
