Rahul Gandhi in favour of direct election for Youth Congress

Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), Jan 27 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Thursday indicated major changes in the set up of the Youth Congress and party's students organization National Students' Union of India (NSUI), saying the office-bearers would now be elected directly by members of these organisations.

Addressing an 'Adiwasi Melawa' (tribal youth meet) in this naxal-hit district, Gandhi said the practice of nominating heads of these two organisation will be done away with, and now onwards, the members will elect their own leader.

"I will not select your leader...But you will have to elect your own leader and we are not bothered about his family background but surely, will depend on his personality and capabilities," Gandhi told the tribal youths.

"I want to bring changes in the lives of tribals in the country and want to see them play a bigger role on the national level in these two organisations," he added.

The Gandhi scion, who was present here amidst tight security arrangements called on youngsters to enroll themselves in large numbers in the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and Youth Congress to strengthen them.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Union Minister of Social Justice Mukul Vasnik accompanied Gandhi on the occasion.

Rahul Gandhi, who is presently on a three-day visit to Maharashtra to take stock of the Youth Congress membership drive in the state, also interacted with a couple of youth activists and took their queries.

During his visit, Rahul Gandhi will also visit Buldhana and Parbhani districts.

He will also attend an Other Backward Castes (OBC) convention in Buldhana and a minority meet in Parbhani.

He will attend a meeting of MPs, MLAs and block presidents in Aurangabad.

On Saturday, he will address media in Aurangabad before leaving for the coastal Konkan region.

This is Gandhi"s second visit to Vidarbha region within six months. Earlier, he had visited Dr Punjabrao Deshmukh Agriculture University in Akola and addressed agriculture students in a closed-door meet. (ANI)