A SHIFT TAKES PLACE IN YOUTH CONGRESS DYNAMICS

Uday Bhanu Chib was appointed IYC president by Rahul Gandhi, after the latter interviewed close to 25 candidates.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The appointment of the new Indian Youth Congress chief (IYC), Uday Bhanu Chib, who was the state president of Jammu and Kashmir IYC, was finalized by leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, after interviewing close to 25 probable candidates, most of whom were being pushed by senior party leaders.

However, none of those whose names were recommended by leaders and individuals who are counted as close to Rahul Gandhi got a favourable response, and it appears that relying on recommendations and lobbying might have actually worked against the candidates who were sure of their selection because of the strong support that they had from senior party leaders.

Among those who had applied for the said post and were shortlisted for it, on the basis of multiple criteria, that also included age being less than 40 years, were IYC functionaries like Purchandra Coco Padhi, Vikrant Bhuria, Vipin Wankhede, Shashi Singh Koram, Divyanshu Budhiraja, Abhimanyu Poonia, Shiv Prakash Garib Das, Mitendra Darshan Singh, Ishita Sheda, Pratima Pinki Mudgal among others.

In the 15-20 minutes interaction, the short-listed leaders were asked their views on caste census, concept of social justice and how they see the Congress performing in the coming years and the challenges that it will face.

The selection of who will lead the youth wing of the Congress this time was being watched keenly as, unlike the last time, many serious contenders were trying their luck, supported by different groups of national leaders, each trying to install their own man in the said post.

Individuals holding the post of state presidents and national general secretary in IYC are usually appointed the national president.