Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi claims that connections don't matter in the Youth Congress and no one had "landed by parachute" there. Here's a reality check on the unit's officebearers in different states. In most cases, talent plays second fiddle to lineage.
Milind Deora
Member of Rahul Gandhi's core committee
One of the youngest members of the current Lok Sabha and MoS for IT, Milind is also known to be extremely close to the Gandhi scion.
His entry into politics was facilitated by his father and former Union minister Murli Deora, who enjoyed a close friendship with the Gandhi family. Murli managed to get an election ticket for his son from South Mumbai while he was a Rajya Sabha member.
But Milind, unlike many others, has proved his credentials and carved a niche for himself. His clout in Delhi is enormous as he is considered Rahul's close friend.
He is popular among South Mumbai's intelligentsia and even criticises his own party or the government if he believes a decision is "anti-people".
As member of the parliamentary standing committee on defence, he has worked on the indigenisation of defence production and defence budgeting, creating a consensus towards setting up a unified command for the armed forces, and the welfare of former servicemen.
As member of the parliamentary consultative committee on urban development, Milind took active part in deliberations on Mumbai's rightful claim for increased central assistance for various urban infrastructure projects. He also runs the foundation SPARSH, a social initiative which aims at educating students in computer and IT.
- Aditi Raja/Mumbai
Tarun Patel
Youth Congress's central zone president
Barely two months after the central zone Youth Congress elections, zonal president Tarun Patel was slapped with a six-month suspension in October 2010 for indiscipline. He was penalised for breaking open the locks of some rooms at the Youth Congress' Lucknow office against the wishes of senior state leaders, but he has still not vacated the rooms.
"Of the four zones demarcated by Rahul in UP to raise his team, only the central zone election has taken place. Patel is expected to work for Rahul's Mission-2012, but he has hardly organised any worthwhile events or done noticeable work on the ground…. The two are happy exchanging SMSes. But since Patel is Union minister Beni Prasad Verma's choice, he continues in the post," a senior Congress leader rued.
In Sonia Gandhi's constituency, Rae Bareli Youth Congress chief Vikram Jeet Singh too comes from a Nehru-Gandhi loyalist family. "He has not organised any major youth movement. They have become officebearers only because of their pedigree," an area leader said.
Similarly, there's a cloud over Rae Bareli Youth Congress general secretary Muztaba Azhar Naqvi too. In fact, the entire process of Youth Congress elections in the central zone is said to be mired in controversy.
- Piyush Srivastava/Lucknow
Sudhakar Babu
Andhra Pradesh Youth Congress president
TJR Sudhakar Babu, who has been in state politics for nearly a decade now, is considered Rahul Gandhi's blue-eyed boy.
Because of his staunch loyalty to the Gandhi family, Sudhakar became the Youth Congress president in 2004 and made his way into Rahul's inner circle.
Once a staunch follower of the late CM Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and the right-hand man of YSR's adviser KVP Ramachandra Rao, Sudhakar later turned into a bitter enemy of the YSR Congress, led by YSR's son, Jaganmohan. He even faced attacks from Jagan's loyalists in his native Guntur district.
Whenever Rahul visits Andhra Pradesh and addresses youth gatherings in universities and colleges, Sudhakar is invariably the leader of his team and makes all the arrangements.
He also has the responsibility of recruiting youngsters to the state Youth Congress unit.
With elections to the state youth unit yet to take place, Sudhakar Babu has been able to continue as its president.
- A. Srinivasa Rao/ Hyderabad
Vikramaditya Singh
Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress president
This November 8, Vikramaditya defeated Raghubir Bali to become the youth unit chief. Both contenders for the post were sons of Congress heavyweights - Union minister Virbhadra Singh and former transport minister G.S. Bali - and lack a proven track record.
Senior Singh and Bali left no stone unturned to catapult their sons into mainstream politics, and Singh even personally campaigned for Vikramditya. In the poll for president, the sitting Youth Congress chief, Manmohan Katoch, who is a "commoner", came a poor third. The meagre votes won by the other candidates who lacked a political background also showed that the election was greatly influenced by the party heavyweights, whose sons came into the picture when the polls were announced.
The final election result was later withheld by the election commissioner, whose office reportedly received complaints about the undemocratic tactics adopted by the top candidates.
- Manjeet Sehgal/Shimla
M. Yuvaraja and Jothimani
Tamil Nadu Youth Congress president and functionary
No one from Rahul's brigade could remain in the political spotlight in this state. M. Yuvaraja and Youth Congress functionary Jothimani appeared promising, but failed miserably as leaders. Neither the proximity to the Congress crown prince nor their position as youth functionaries could help them build the organisation, which remains moribund.
Rahul had campaigned for both in the assembly elections as they had secured their nomination through him. But not only did they lose, none of the Youth Congress candidates could emerge victorious. In fact, the unit has almost disappeared in Tamil Nadu.
- M.C.Rajan/Chennai
Krishna Byre Gowda
Rahul Gandhi's best buddy in Karnataka
Krishna was the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress Committee for some time and is one of the young leaders identified by Rahul as a "politician with a lot of promise".
But he is the son of former minister Byre Gowda - legendary socialist in the undivided Janata Dal - and plunged into politics soon after his father's demise in 2004.
He contested as an Independent from his father's Vemgal constituency and won easily. He later joined the Congress. After the reorganisation of assembly constituencies, Gowda shifted base to Byatarayanapura near Bangalore, and won from there in 2008.
Gowda, who holds a Master's degree in international affairs from American University in Washington, is considered a reluctant politician.
He was working as an associate at the embassy of Ethiopia in Washington, before he was forced to return to India.
So far, he has maintained a clean reputation in politics. Not many leaders of his age have successfully shifted base from one constituency to another.
He is, however, nowhere near becoming a mass leader, even though he has successfully strengthened the Congress in North Bangalore. Stalwarts in the Karnataka Congress are ensuring that his activities are restricted to specific partybuilding work at the grassroots level.
Aravind Gowda/Bangalore
Lalan Kumar
Bihar Youth Congress president
When Lalan Kumar was elected president of the Bihar Youth Congress Committee last year, he was widely perceived to be the protégé of RJD strongman (former MP) Pappu Yadav, who is currently lodged in jail for murder.
Rahul had undertaken a massive exercise to induct fresh blood into the state party unit, prior to last year's assembly elections. It was his avowed objective to keep the criminal element away, but the polls were marred with complaints about malpractices adopted by different factions. In the end, it was Lalan who took the reins of the Congress's state youth unit.
During the assembly election, he was arrested from a Begusarai hotel, along with party secretary Sagar Raika, for carrying Rs6.44 lakh which was allegedly to be used for bringing people to a Congress rally.
Otherwise, he has performed his duties well, taking out rallies against the state's Nitish Kumar government and highlighting people-centric issues. His "aggressive" style of working, however, often offends the party's old-timers.
Milind Deora
Member of Rahul Gandhi's core committee
One of the youngest members of the current Lok Sabha and MoS for IT, Milind is also known to be extremely close to the Gandhi scion.
His entry into politics was facilitated by his father and former Union minister Murli Deora, who enjoyed a close friendship with the Gandhi family. Murli managed to get an election ticket for his son from South Mumbai while he was a Rajya Sabha member.
But Milind, unlike many others, has proved his credentials and carved a niche for himself. His clout in Delhi is enormous as he is considered Rahul's close friend.
He is popular among South Mumbai's intelligentsia and even criticises his own party or the government if he believes a decision is "anti-people".
As member of the parliamentary standing committee on defence, he has worked on the indigenisation of defence production and defence budgeting, creating a consensus towards setting up a unified command for the armed forces, and the welfare of former servicemen.
As member of the parliamentary consultative committee on urban development, Milind took active part in deliberations on Mumbai's rightful claim for increased central assistance for various urban infrastructure projects. He also runs the foundation SPARSH, a social initiative which aims at educating students in computer and IT.
- Aditi Raja/Mumbai
Tarun Patel
Youth Congress's central zone president
Barely two months after the central zone Youth Congress elections, zonal president Tarun Patel was slapped with a six-month suspension in October 2010 for indiscipline. He was penalised for breaking open the locks of some rooms at the Youth Congress' Lucknow office against the wishes of senior state leaders, but he has still not vacated the rooms.
"Of the four zones demarcated by Rahul in UP to raise his team, only the central zone election has taken place. Patel is expected to work for Rahul's Mission-2012, but he has hardly organised any worthwhile events or done noticeable work on the ground…. The two are happy exchanging SMSes. But since Patel is Union minister Beni Prasad Verma's choice, he continues in the post," a senior Congress leader rued.
In Sonia Gandhi's constituency, Rae Bareli Youth Congress chief Vikram Jeet Singh too comes from a Nehru-Gandhi loyalist family. "He has not organised any major youth movement. They have become officebearers only because of their pedigree," an area leader said.
Similarly, there's a cloud over Rae Bareli Youth Congress general secretary Muztaba Azhar Naqvi too. In fact, the entire process of Youth Congress elections in the central zone is said to be mired in controversy.
- Piyush Srivastava/Lucknow
Sudhakar Babu
Andhra Pradesh Youth Congress president
TJR Sudhakar Babu, who has been in state politics for nearly a decade now, is considered Rahul Gandhi's blue-eyed boy.
Because of his staunch loyalty to the Gandhi family, Sudhakar became the Youth Congress president in 2004 and made his way into Rahul's inner circle.
Once a staunch follower of the late CM Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and the right-hand man of YSR's adviser KVP Ramachandra Rao, Sudhakar later turned into a bitter enemy of the YSR Congress, led by YSR's son, Jaganmohan. He even faced attacks from Jagan's loyalists in his native Guntur district.
Whenever Rahul visits Andhra Pradesh and addresses youth gatherings in universities and colleges, Sudhakar is invariably the leader of his team and makes all the arrangements.
He also has the responsibility of recruiting youngsters to the state Youth Congress unit.
With elections to the state youth unit yet to take place, Sudhakar Babu has been able to continue as its president.
- A. Srinivasa Rao/ Hyderabad
Vikramaditya Singh
Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress president
This November 8, Vikramaditya defeated Raghubir Bali to become the youth unit chief. Both contenders for the post were sons of Congress heavyweights - Union minister Virbhadra Singh and former transport minister G.S. Bali - and lack a proven track record.
Senior Singh and Bali left no stone unturned to catapult their sons into mainstream politics, and Singh even personally campaigned for Vikramditya. In the poll for president, the sitting Youth Congress chief, Manmohan Katoch, who is a "commoner", came a poor third. The meagre votes won by the other candidates who lacked a political background also showed that the election was greatly influenced by the party heavyweights, whose sons came into the picture when the polls were announced.
The final election result was later withheld by the election commissioner, whose office reportedly received complaints about the undemocratic tactics adopted by the top candidates.
- Manjeet Sehgal/Shimla
M. Yuvaraja and Jothimani
Tamil Nadu Youth Congress president and functionary
No one from Rahul's brigade could remain in the political spotlight in this state. M. Yuvaraja and Youth Congress functionary Jothimani appeared promising, but failed miserably as leaders. Neither the proximity to the Congress crown prince nor their position as youth functionaries could help them build the organisation, which remains moribund.
Rahul had campaigned for both in the assembly elections as they had secured their nomination through him. But not only did they lose, none of the Youth Congress candidates could emerge victorious. In fact, the unit has almost disappeared in Tamil Nadu.
- M.C.Rajan/Chennai
Krishna Byre Gowda
Rahul Gandhi's best buddy in Karnataka
Krishna was the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress Committee for some time and is one of the young leaders identified by Rahul as a "politician with a lot of promise".
But he is the son of former minister Byre Gowda - legendary socialist in the undivided Janata Dal - and plunged into politics soon after his father's demise in 2004.
He contested as an Independent from his father's Vemgal constituency and won easily. He later joined the Congress. After the reorganisation of assembly constituencies, Gowda shifted base to Byatarayanapura near Bangalore, and won from there in 2008.
Gowda, who holds a Master's degree in international affairs from American University in Washington, is considered a reluctant politician.
He was working as an associate at the embassy of Ethiopia in Washington, before he was forced to return to India.
So far, he has maintained a clean reputation in politics. Not many leaders of his age have successfully shifted base from one constituency to another.
He is, however, nowhere near becoming a mass leader, even though he has successfully strengthened the Congress in North Bangalore. Stalwarts in the Karnataka Congress are ensuring that his activities are restricted to specific partybuilding work at the grassroots level.
Aravind Gowda/Bangalore
Lalan Kumar
Bihar Youth Congress president
When Lalan Kumar was elected president of the Bihar Youth Congress Committee last year, he was widely perceived to be the protégé of RJD strongman (former MP) Pappu Yadav, who is currently lodged in jail for murder.
Rahul had undertaken a massive exercise to induct fresh blood into the state party unit, prior to last year's assembly elections. It was his avowed objective to keep the criminal element away, but the polls were marred with complaints about malpractices adopted by different factions. In the end, it was Lalan who took the reins of the Congress's state youth unit.
During the assembly election, he was arrested from a Begusarai hotel, along with party secretary Sagar Raika, for carrying Rs6.44 lakh which was allegedly to be used for bringing people to a Congress rally.
Otherwise, he has performed his duties well, taking out rallies against the state's Nitish Kumar government and highlighting people-centric issues. His "aggressive" style of working, however, often offends the party's old-timers.
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