Congress announces Ex-PM Manmohan Singh Fellowship Programme

The Congress on Friday announced the 'Dr Manmohan Singh Fellowships', a programme where 50 mid-level professionals with 10 years' experience in their respective areas will be selected every year and mentored by some senior party leaders for their political career and leadership-building.

While party functionaries Praveen Chakravarty and K Raju said those who will be selected for the fellowship have to show full-time commitment to enter politics with an absolute conviction for secular, progressive politics, it remains to be seen how the Congress Party, NSUI and Youth Congress' activists, who slug it out on the streets without mentorships and fellowships, will respond to this latest in a series of novel experiments -- an invite for lateral entries.

"It's time India's brightest minds brought their power to politics. The Dr Manmohan Singh Fellows programme is our call to mid-career professionals-step into public life, lead with integrity, and help build a progressive and inclusive India. Apply now," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X.