TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Even as the Youth Congress membership drive got underway in the State, which will culminate in the election of a new President and committee, incumbent GPYC Chief Pratima Coutinho has said she is not running for the post and would want a new face to take over the reigns of office.
Flanked by Youth Congress election returning officer Jayendra Ramola and Mandip Vaghela, Pratima said that she would be happy to work for the part in the capacity of general secretary of the Goa Pradesh Congress party which she will be entitled to give her status as the outgoing GPYC president.
Meanwhile, Ramola told newsmen that the membership of the Youth Congress is open for persons who have attained 18 years of age. He said the membership drive which began on May 11 will culminate on June 5. “Any person between the age group of 18 to 35 years is eligible to contest the polls. No political party in the history of India has held internal party elections for any of its organisations. This is an attempt of the party to build the youth Congress organisation at the grassroots level in every corner of the State and eventually in the entire country”, he added.
Replying to a question, Ramola said he has undertaken the exercise of calling on party MLAs as well as defeated candidates in the constituencies, but made it abundantly clear that the election process will be carried out independently and in a free and fair manner.
To ensure fairness of the election process, Rahul Gandhi has requested the Foundation for Advanced Management of Elections (FAME) to independently audit the membership and election process and ensure that it is impartial and open to participation for all, he said.
