Youth Congress leaders in Dakshina Kannada resign en masse over ticket denial to Mithun Rai

Mangaluru, Apr 17: The office bearers of the Youth Congress from all eight constituencies of Dakshina Kannada have resigned en masse over ticket denial to district Youth Congress president Mithun Rai in May 12 Karnataka assembly polls.

The development comes two days after the Congress released its first list of 218 candidates for the polls. Mithun Rai was an aspirant for the Congress ticket from Mulki-Moodbidri constituency among others. However, the party issued ticket to incumbent MLA Abhaychandra Jain.

Addressing a media in the city, Kiran Kumar Guddeguthlu, district general secretary of the Youth Cong, said that fielding Mr Jain again in the constituency though he had expressed his desire to give opportunity to youngsters instead of contesting himself has hurt the new generation workers.

“Mithun Rai was sure of getting ticket. He worked hard for past three years in Mulky-Moodbidri constituency. Now the party changed its mind all of a sudden and fielded Mr Jain again. This is also against the advice of party supremo Rahul Gandhi who had called upon the seniors to vacate place for the young leaders,” he said.

“This decision will harm Congress party too as a large number of party youth who were attracted towards the party after Rahul Gandhi took over as the president, are now moving away from the party in the constituency,” he said. 

Suhail Kandak, Youth Congress state general secretary, said that though he was not against Mr Jain, the new generation wanted to see a young leader like Mr Mithun Rai as MLA.

Youth Cong leaders Girish Alva, Merril Rego, Mohammed Taushif, Abhinandan Belthangady, Prathashanth, Prasad Malli, Prashant Kulal, Mohammed Siddeeq, Varun Raj were present among others.