The Congress welcomes poor people, youth, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to its fold and the party has given a good-bye to its yester-year’s pro-rich stance, All India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi said in Krishnagiri on Thursday.
Mr. Gandhi, who was addressing a party meeting at a private marriage hall, appealed to youths, women and SC and ST people to come to its fold and face elections.
He said he was restrained when he started canvassing for the party in Uttar Pradesh four years ago. The local parties, after the recent general election, “understood the youth power and what we are.”
There was a myth that the Congress was rich men’s party. “We, the young blood in the party, should break this barrier and strive to bring the young and talented youths into the congress fold to work for the betterment of women, weaker sections of people like SCs and STs in society.’’
Some of the youths asked, “If we plunge into politics, what will be our role in the year 2011?”
Mr. Gandhi replied that the party would tell about their role after the 2011 elections.
He said he saw tremendous support among the youth for the Congress in Tamil Nadu in the past two days. This indicated that the party was strong in the State.
Earlier, Mr. Gandhi congratulated a youth, who explained about the Youth Congress in the State and its future elections.
The meeting, where journalists, including photographers were barred entry, was attended by more than 2,000 Youth Congress members.
Ecstatic over Mr. Gandhi’s candid approach to the cadre, M. Arun from Krishnagiri told The Hindu that the leader shook hands with many of them after winding up the question-and-answer session. Though it was planned for 20 minutes, the session lasted for about an hour.
Mr. Gandhi replied to four youths, including a woman.
Earlier, Mr. Gandhi was received by more than 150 party office bearers from Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts at the helipad in the Government Arts College.
Besides TNCC president K.V. Thankgabalu, Sathyan Phuthoor, Returning Officer for Youth Congress election in Dharmapuri district and Vinodh Chandra Raju, Returning Officer for Krishnagiri district accompanied Mr. Gandhi at the “potential candidates meeting” and a programme at the District Sports Stadium in Krishnagiri.
