New Delhi, December 1 (IANS). Congress MP from Sivagangai Karti Chidambaram has raised questions on the membership campaign of Indian Youth Congress (IYC). He has appealed to stop it calling it a “phantom/ghost”.
Karti, son of former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, on Sunday hit out at the party’s youth wing over its sluggish campaign to induct new members. He also appealed to end the campaign due to poor and lackluster response.
Karti, MP from Sivagangai seat of Tamil Nadu, made a sharp criticism and wrote on social media platform X, “The Phantom/Ghost membership campaign of Youth Congress should be stopped. We are just fooling ourselves.”
Karti’s jibe at the “phantom/ghost campaign” for the IYC membership drive is set to create a new stir in party circles, which is already grappling with discontent and internal strife.
The recent assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra have brought to the fore ‘differences and divisions’ between the state units and the high command. The party faced a crushing defeat in both the states. In Haryana, where the instructions of the high command to work together with the allies were ignored. At the same time, the suggestions of the top leadership in Maharashtra were not heeded.
Karti’s condemnation of the IYC membership drive is also being seen in the same context. Although it is believed to have the support of the top leadership of the Congress, the condemnation made by the former minister’s son is expected to create a new stir in the top leadership.
Congress has launched its membership drive in many states/union territories this year. In July, Delhi Congress chief Devendra Yadav launched the membership drive of Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress (DPYC) ahead of the 2025 assembly elections, saying the aim was to adopt Rahul Gandhi’s ‘make leader – choose leader’ approach.
State President of Congress and Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka D.K. Shivakumar announced the IYC state unit’s membership drive and internal elections in August and September this year, paving the way for new and emerging leaders.
Meghalaya Congress also announced its plan to revive its youth wing by holding IYC organizational elections across the state in November 2024.
IYC, the youth wing of the Indian National Congress (INC), has more than two crore members. It describes itself as the world’s largest democratic youth organization.
–IANS
PSM/AKJ
