12 hours ago
Cong reserves 50% tickets for youth in Raj local polls
Jaipur: In a significant move towards youth empowerment, the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) has announced that 50% of its tickets for upcoming local body elections will be reserved for candidates under 50 years of age.
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The announcement came from Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra following a two-day consultation with party coordinators from all 200 assembly constituencies here.
The initiative, which aligns with the party's 2022 Udaipur Declaration, will be implemented in the urban body and Panchayati Raj elections scheduled for 2025 and 2026, respectively. This marks the first major implementation of the declaration's proposal to allocate half of the party tickets to younger members.
"This decision reflects our commitment to recognising grassroots leadership and empowering the next generation," said Dotasra. "Inputs from mandal, block and district presidents will play a major role in the ticket distribution process," he said.
The reservation policy will apply to all positions contested on party symbols, including municipal chairpersons, mayors, Zila Pramukhs and Panchayat Samiti members.
Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi confirmed that local units have been directed to identify and groom promising young candidates for electoral roles. The party is also reviewing its organisational structure, with plans to replace inactive office-bearers with more field-engaged members based on feedback from 200 assembly constituency coordinators.
The elections are currently on hold due to the state govt's 'One State, One Election' policy, which aims to synchronise all local elections. In the interim, administrators have been appointed to oversee various Panchayats and urban bodies. This strategic move is seen as part of the Congress party's broader efforts to revitalise its grassroots base and promote youth participation in local governance across Rajasthan.
