Kishor holds meet to discuss poll tickets for youth wing leaders

LUCKNOW: As the leaders of Congress youth wing demanded more tickets for 2017 assembly elections, political strategist Prashant Kishor on Thursday asked them to provide a list of one worker on every booth in all assembly segments of the state.

“Kishor gave his mobile number to every youth Congress worker and National Students Union of India (NSUI) volunteers and asked them to prepare a list of workers for every polling booth in all assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh. This comes out to nearly 250 workers or more for every assembly seat,” said a senior party leader.

Kishor held a meeting with the leaders of Congress’ frontal organisation that included Uttar Pradesh Youth Congress, National Students Union of India and Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Caste department. Besides UP state incharge Madhusudan Mistry, UPCC president Nirmal Khatri and other senior leaders were also present at the meeting.

“I will extend all help. I am not here to finalise a candidate. I can look into your problems and even arrange a meeting with senior party leaders to solve them,” said Kishor.

Kishor’s observations came after a number of leaders of Congress’ youth wing demanded that they be considered by the party for ticket. UP Youth Congress leader Ankit Parihar said that the youth wing workers who were given ticket in 2012 assembly elections had performed well. The party should, therefore, consider the deserving candidates in the youth wing.

Kishor asked Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) Scheduled Caste department to appoint an incharge in every assembly constituency, who could mobilise at least 10,000 workers in every seat. When the party leaders pointed out that there was no such provision in the party organisation, he suggested to make a list of 20-25 leaders for every seat and put them on the job.