Denial of ticket to Mithun Rai: DK Youth Cong functionaries quit in protest

The decision of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) not to award a ticket to Dakshina Kannada (DK) Youth Congress President Mithun Rai for the Mulki-Moodbidri seat has drawn flak and provoked ire among party functionaries.

Angered by this decision, the president and members of Block Congress Committees in all the eight assembly constituencies and office-bearers of DK Youth Congress Committee submitted their resignation enmasse, to the District Congress Committee on, Tuesday.

They maintained that they will remain neutral till DK Youth Congress President takes a stand on the matter.

Briefing media people here on Tuesday, DK Youth Congress General Secretary Kiran Kumar Gudleguthu said AICC President Rahul Gandhi had promised to give youth priority during the upcoming Assembly elections.

To pave way for youngsters, sitting MLA of Mulki-Moodbidri constituency Abhayachandra Jain had said that he will not contest the election three years ago.

Accordingly, Mithun Rai had been working in the constituency for the last three years by developing a network of youth and galvanising the party from the grassroots.

"We have been helping the growth of the Congress in Moodbidri constituency led by Mithun Rai. We had hoped that the ticket would be given to him as representation of youth power,” he said.

"The denial of ticket to Mithun Rai has disheartened the Youth Congress members who are not keen on participating in party activities in the future. They doubt whether youth will get justice in the party, ever,” he added.

State Youth Congress General Secretary Suhail Kandak said “We are not against anyone in the party. We only expected that Mithun Rai would be given the ticket. Till Rai arrives, we will remain neutral and will abide by the decisions taken by him.”