Denial of ticket: NSUI members tender resignation

After the resignation of Youth Congress members on Wednesday, it was the turn of National Students Union of India (NSUI) members to express their solidarity with Youth Congress district President Mithun Rai, who was denied ticket to contest the Assembly elections, by the AICC.

AICC's decision not to award a ticket to Mithun Rai for the Mulki-Moodbidri seat has drawn flak and NSUI office-bearers of Dakshina Kannada district along with office-bearers six NSUI units in colleges tendered their resignation en masse, to the District Congress Committee.

Speaking to the media NSUI State General Secretary Roopesh Rai said “Mithun Rai has supported us throughout. If the Youth Congress have a strong base in entire Dakshina Kannada district, it is because of an able leader like Mithun Rai. He has helped NSUI to grow and flourish in the district. Rai has been our role model and he is the only person who stood by the students during the time of crises.”

He said: “We have been saddened to know that a leader who started his political career from NSUI has been denied ticket. We all believe that its a moral victory if our leader wins, because he will represent students and youth in the Karnataka assembly,” he said and appealed to the party High Command to reconsider the decision.

“We only expected that Mithun Rai be given the ticket. We will abide by the decisions taken by Mithun Rai,” Roopesh Rai added.

In reply to a query on whether mass resignations will amount to anti-party activities, he said: “We only have decided to tender our resignation from NSUI posts and stand by Mithun Rai. We will continue to work for the party as workers. All efforts to reach out to Rai have failed after he was denied the ticket. A total of 70 to 80 members tendered resignation.