Ahead of the upcoming Panchayat Raj and urban local body elections in Rajasthan, the Congress has announced plans to reserve 50 per cent of its tickets for young candidates, with Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Govind Singh Dotasra saying the move aims to bring fresh leadership into grassroots politics. The decision was announced during a party workshop in Jaipur as the Congress began preparations for the local elections. Addressing a workshop organised by the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan at the PCC headquarters, Dotasra said the party intends to increase youth participation in local governance by providing greater opportunities to emerging leaders at the village, block and ward levels.
He said the move would help strengthen the party's grassroots structure by encouraging young workers to take up leadership roles in Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies. "The Congress will give 50% of tickets to youth candidates in the Panchayat and urban body elections," Dotasra said, describing the decision as an effort to promote energetic and capable leaders within the party. He added that young candidates could play an important role in addressing local issues and improving representation in village and urban administrations.
The Rajasthan Congress chief also targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government over delays in conducting local body elections. Dotasra alleged that the government had weakened the Panchayati Raj system by failing to hold elections within the scheduled timeframe. He claimed that elections were initiated only after intervention from the Rajasthan High Court. According to Dotasra, the delay in holding elections affected the functioning of local governance institutions and resulted in a loss of nearly ₹300 crore in Central and state grants meant for Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies. He alleged that development activities in villages and towns suffered because the terms of elected representatives had ended, leaving administrative officials to manage local bodies.
Also Read: Trump Optimistic As Iran Talks Advance While Both Sides Continue To Observe Ceasefire
The Congress leader further claimed that the absence of elected representatives increased the possibility of corruption and slowed down public welfare work. He said local governance requires active participation from elected members who understand the needs of residents and can ensure better implementation of development schemes. As part of its preparations for the upcoming elections, the Congress has planned a series of organisational meetings across all districts of Rajasthan. These meetings, scheduled to continue until July 30, are aimed at mobilising party workers, strengthening booth-level networks and preparing candidates for the Panchayat Raj and urban local body polls.
The announcement comes as political parties in Rajasthan intensify their preparations for the local elections, which are expected to be a key test of their grassroots support. By focusing on youth representation, the Congress is seeking to project a message of organisational renewal while attempting to strengthen its presence across rural and urban constituencies. The party's decision to allocate a significant share of tickets to young candidates is part of a broader strategy to attract new faces into electoral politics. However, the success of the move will depend on candidate selection, organisational coordination and the ability of new leaders to connect with voters at the local level.
Also Read: Paper Leaks Stem From Human Integrity Failures, Not Technology: IIT Madras Director