Denial of ticket: Youth Congress leaders submit mass resignation in Dakshina Kannada

MANGALURU: Two days after the announcement of Congress candidates list, revolt is brewing in Dakshina Kannada District Congress with party youth wing leaders submitting a mass resignation.
Denial of party ticket to Dakshina Kannada District Youth Congress president Mithun Rai has attracted the ire of his followers. Presidents and office bearers of Youth Congress Block Committees in all eight Assembly segments in Dakshina Kannada district have submitted a mass resignation expressing dissatisfaction over denial of party ticket for Rai, who wanted to contest from Mulky-Moodbidri constituency.
“Denial of ticket for Mithun Rai has pained youth leaders in the district. Youth leaders are in apprehension over the decision and they are not showing interest in working for the party. Hence, we have submitted a mass resignation to the District Congress Committee (DCC). It has been decided that the Youth Congress will be remaining neutral in the district in the days to come. We tried to contact Mithun Rai, but failed. However, we have decided to submit resignation on our own,” said Kiran Kumar Budleguthu, general secretary, Dakshina Kannada District Youth Congress Committee.
At a press conference along with presidents and office bearers of Belthangady, Puttur, Sullia, Bantwal, Moodbidri, Mangaluru, Mangaluru City North and Mangaluru City North constituencies, Kumar said, Rai was instrumental in building a strong base for Youth Congress in the district.
“Mithun Rai, who has been elected as the president of party youth wing for the past three terms, is a secular leader. He was successful in preparing a strong youth force for the party in the district. Congress leaders have been giving emphasis to youth in election. Meanwhile, Mulky-Moodbidri MLA K Abhayachandra Jain had declared three years ago that his seat will be given to youth leaders in the next election. Following this, Rai has been working honestly to build party in Mulky-Moodbidri constituency. However, he has not been considered in the final list of Congress candidates,” Kumar lamented.
Youth Congress state general secretary Suhail Kandak said, though mass resignation has been submitted, they will remain in Congress. “We will remain neutral in Congress and will take a decision only after a discussion with Mithun Rai,” he added.
When contacted, DCC president K Harish Kumar said the party will solve the issue amicably. “We will meet youth leaders and discuss their issues. They will not be working against the party. We will convince them and solve the issue,” he added.