Congress launches Manmohan Singh fellowship programme to help professionals transition into politics

New Delhi: Congress on Friday launched a fellowship programme named after Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to attract mid-career professionals to enter the world of politics by offering potential mentorship by leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Ajay Maken and Shashi Tharoor.

The 'Dr Manmohan Singh Fellows Programme', which will select 50 professionals every year, is a "no stipend, no fixed tenure (programme)" that provides a "real opportunity to transition from being a professional to a career politician".

The programme piloted by Praveen Chakravarty-led All India Professionals' Congress will be "a real path to leadership, not just another fellowship".

Besides Rahul, Maken and Tharoor, the programme has ten more "potential mentors", which include Chakravarty, K Raju, Meenakshi Natarajan, Pawan Khera, Sachin Rao, Alka Lamba, Supriya Shrinate, Ajoy Kumar and Krishna Allavaru.

Congress welcomes professionals "eager to make an impact in policy making and politics" and the fellowship is a "political leadership incubator that offers an exclusive, high-impact pathway into politics," party chief Mallikarjun Kharge said.

Rahul, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said, "It’s time India’s brightest minds brought their power to politics. The...programme is our call to mid-career professionals -- step into public life, lead with integrity, and help build a progressive and inclusive India."

Chakravarty told reporters that the programme is open for those professionals who are in the middle of their careers, who have spent close to ten years in the professional world and who are passionate about building a "modern, progressive, prosperous India".

This is not open for entry level professionals, he said adding, "These 50 people will be chosen by an eminent panel through a very intense selection process. Once they are chosen, they will be mentored by senior leaders in the party who have come from professional backgrounds themselves."

The chosen fellows will be given intensive and continuous training and put on real-time assignments and projects within the Congress. This programme is a full-time commitment to enter politics with an "absolute conviction for secular progressive politics", he said.

Recalling a conversation he had with the former prime minister after the Russia-Ukraine conflict started, Chakravarty said he had asked him about how to protect the Indian economy against the backdrop of rising oil prices and Singh suggested gathering a group of young professionals to come up with solutions.

He said Singh told him that his views might be outdated, to which Chakravarty disagreed. "Dr Singh is no longer with us but one of his wishes can be fulfilled by empowering young professionals to lead the country. To achieve this, this programme is being launched," he said.

Raju said he is happy that he is also a mentor in the programme. "We would like to first understand what kind of strengths these professionals possess and what it is that they can contribute to the party. Then we will work on creating an ecosystem for them to grow in politics," he said.

"That way, through one year of mentoring, we will train them how to cope with politics and how to deal with the uncertainties of politics. At the same time, they will learn how to stay focused on their goal with our support," he said.