Congress President Election: Kharge Vows 50% Of Party Posts For Youngsters As Per Udaipur Declaration

The senior Congress leader addressed the PCC members during the visit as part of his campaign.

New Delhi: AICC presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said he would implement the Udaipur Declaration's proposal of offering 50 per cent of party posts to those below 50 years of age, if he wins the poll.

"It's not for post in Congress. Many people left, they left due to fear of ED, CBI, and income tax. For youngsters, as I said, in the Udaipur Declaration, we promised to give 50 per cent of seats to those below 50 years and I will do. When everyone is wanting to make me occupy this place, I thank them," Kharge told reporters, as reported by the news agency PTI. 

The senior Congress leader addressed the PCC members during the visit as part of his campaign. He also repled to a query related to the argument that 80-year-old Kharge is replacing Sonia Gandhi, who is 75 years old, youth are moving away from the party and that a young leader should lead the Congress.

Kharge, who was in Hyderabad as part of his campaign for the AICC president’s post was also asked about the ruling TRS in Telangana renaming itself as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and deciding to go national. Responding to the query he said several regional parties have given themselves the ‘All-India’ tag but had no presence from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. He further said he would take efforts to implement the Udaipur Declaration, as reported by PTI.

Senior leaders backed his candidature, urging him to fight the poll to keep the party strong at a time when Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra do not want to contest, he said. He further said he would take efforts to resolve issues concerning farmers, workers, SC, ST, OBCs, minorities and small businessmen.

Kharge launched a scathing attack on the NDA government over rising unemployment, decline in rupee value, price rise and GST on essential itemsat and the Centre for disinvestment in the PSUs that benefited common people. He said there should be a fight against these issues. He is contesting to carry out the fight, he said.

Kharge said he believed in a collective approach and in taking along everyone, including youth and women. He also criticised the BJP questioning whether any election was conducted to choose its presidents, including L K Advani, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, and JP Nadda. BJP does not have any right to question others, he said.

(With Inputs from PTI)