Mumbai, January 27: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi today indicated major changes in the organizational set up of the Youth Congress and party’s frontal students’ wing NSUI saying office-bearers would hence forth be elected directly by members of these organizations.
Addressing a ‘Adiwasi Melawa’ (tribal youth meet) in this naxal-infested district in Eastern Vidarbha, Gandhi said the previous practice of nominating leaders (presidents) of these two organizations will be done away with, and now onwards, the members will elect their own leader.
“I will not select your leader…But you will have to elect your own leader and we are not bothered about his family background but surely, will depend on his personality and capabilities,” Gandhi told the tribal youths amidst tight security arrangements at the meet held in a specially erected shamiyana here.
Gandhi felt that tribals today are not visible on the national platform and are confined to mostly district-level positions and a handful at the state-level, and hence changes are required in the set up.
“I want to bring changes in the lives of tribals in the country and want to see them play a bigger role on the national level in these two organizations,” he said.
Virtually launching a membership drive of the Youth Congress in Maharashtra from this backward region, Gandhi called on youngsters to enroll themselves in large numbers in the the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and Youth Congress to strengthen them.
He also interacted with a couple of youth activists, and answered their queries. He directed them to forward their grievances and problems if any, to State Chief ministers.
Accompanied by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Union Minister of Social Justice Mukul Vasnik, Gandhi flew in here by a chopper from Nagpur to kick start his tour to take stock of the Youth Congress membership drive in the state.
The Congress leader will visit Buldhana and Parbhani districts during his three-day visit to Maharashtra.
He will also attend a meeting of MPs, MLAs, Block presidents in Aurangabad where Chavan will also be present.
This is Gandhi’s second visit to Vidarbha region within six months.
–PTI