There are signs however, that Gowda is fulfiling it, when we hear KPCC president Mallikarjun Kharge say that seniors in the party sit back and listen, when Gowda speaks in the Assembly. D K Shivakumar feels that he sees a youth resurgence in the teeming crowds that gather around the young leader. Gowda, who comes with the stamp of approval from the all-important Gandhi family, says he’s set to revitalise the Congress’ youth force that has, in recent times, been found weighed down by the party’s top brass.

Son of the late Janata Dal leader C Byre Gowda, he was elected on a Janata Dal (U) ticket to the Legislative Assembly after the death of his father. After joining the Congress, Gowda retained the Vemgal (Kolar district) Assembly seat in 2004. Seen as part of an emerging young force in the Congress, Gowda has also been an active participant in civic debates on diverse subjects, from infrastructure to greenhouse gas emissions. R Krishnakumar of Deccan Herald spoke to the Vemgal MLA on the challenges and opportunities ahead. Excerpts:

Is there any one critical area that you are focusing on as the new Youth Congress chief in the state?

Shaping an effective and young leadership is an immediate requirement for the party. Rahul Gandhi has made his stance clear on this. The task, basically, involves re-organising the Youth Congress structure, bolstering the party at the grassroots level and also devising programmes that reflect what the party stands for. Of course, it involves a lot of background work, but we are up to it.

Are you following any specific agenda that will drive the re-organisation exercise?

Membership drive will be one of the thrust areas, to start with.

What difference can the young cadres make to the Congress in the state, at a time when the mood in the party is downbeat?

Well, the youngsters in the party are hankering for a young leadership. With Rahul Gandhi at the helm, the leader’s vision and the cadres’ readiness to work are in place. The need is to nurture a unit of selfless workers, who can join issues, by looking beyond the conventional mode of protests.

But how far can the youth make the cut in a party that’s virtually lorded over by senior leaders?

Yes, there are many seniors in the party. I’d rather turn to them for inspiration and guidance. And I don’t agree that the Youth Congress is a down-rung unit. We have a strong presence in the state, but it has to be further strengthened.

Do you have a plan lined up for the possibilities of a fresh Assembly election?

Always. We are always ready for any election.

How important is power to a Youth Congress member?

There’s no denying that power is important. However, that shouldn’t be the single-point agenda of the workers. I believe that if you have your values in place and are ready to work selflessly and sincerely, power will follow.
There’s a pattern of general disgruntlement among youngsters regarding the political establishment in

Karnataka...

That kind of disillusionment is a norm across the country. There’s a need to present the positives of the political system to the youngsters. However, I’m not for the critics who can’t join together to address the issue themselves. Youngsters can’t just shy away from politics and be critical about it. Their participation will drive the change that they want.