Rahul to address convention of Youth Congress today

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi will be addressing a two day convention of the youth congress on Monday. Rahul will speak to the newly-elected office bearers of the Youth Congress at the first-ever convention of the body in the backdrop of Assembly polls to five states, including Uttar Pradesh.

The timing is significant as it comes just before elections in Uttar Pradesh, where the party's strategy is being spearheaded by Rahul himself.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress President Sonia Gandhi are also expected to address the convention.

Gandhi will be inaugurating the convention of the 8,000- odd elected members from across the country at a time when the UPA-II has just completed its mid-term and is poised for future challenges.

The convention titled 'Buniyaad' (foundation) is the first major programme of the party after Rahul Gandhi started playing a larger role in the organisation in the wake of his mother's illness.

In fact, the convention is the brainchild of Rahul, the General Secretary in-charge of Youth Congress, who has been insisting that all office bearers should be called to the capital for a discussion with senior leaders and among themselves.

"All the 8,000 people who will be participating in the convention have been democratically-elected by Youth Congress workers. The conference has been convened so that they get a forum to discuss the political situation and other issues as a group," a close aide of Gandhi told PTI.

The aide, who has been involved in Youth Congress activities for the past 10 years, said the office-bearers would also be told about the political stand of the party on various issues.

"Youth Congress office-bearers from all states would be represented at the conference. So they will get a chance to interact among themselves. He (Rahul) wanted such a convention," he said.

Senior Ministers like Pranab Mukherjee, AK Antony, Mukul Wasnik and Jairam Ramesh are also expected to address the convention and impart lessons to the office-bearers, sources said.

Rahul has been personally touring the country and conducting membership drives to strengthen the party's youth wing. He has also brought in election system to elect office bearers and Presidents of state Youth Congress units.

This is the first time that such a convention of the Youth Congress will be held, the sources said, adding that the idea was mooted by Rahul.

The convention is likely to adopt resolutions on pressing issues like inflation, the sources said.

All the 8,000-odd office-bearers will be put up at the same venue.

(With additional information from PTI)