Congress inducts 10 young and new faces to take on AAP government

NEW DELHI: Ten young faces, having "rich professional" background and with an average age of 29, are all set to lead the Congress in its attempts to revive its fortunes in the national capital following a complete wipe out in the last Assembly elections.

The young team, representing the "new face" of the grand old party, would shadow departments of the AAP government in Delhi and be "proactive" in taking up issues rather than just being "reactive", Delhi Congress Chief Ajay Maken said today.

Introducing the team, which includes five women, three dalits and two Muslims, Maken said the move was "progressive". He also announced the decision of appointing President Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee as the chief spokesperson and communication department in-charge of DPCC.

"They would function as shadow heads of departments such as power, transport, health, women and child development among others and would hold the government accountable.

"All of them are extremely keen on research work thus you can expect our party releases and statements to be more well-researched. They would be taking up various issues and would keep their versions with documented proof three days a week," Maken said at a press conference.

Seeking to allay perceptions that party veterans were being sidelined, he said senior leaders would be accommodated in higher ranks after organisational restructuring.

"The new organisation is coming up which will be a mix of faces, young and old, and would work in tandem. We will definitely use the experience and political acumen of the seniors," he said.

The team comprises people from varied backgrounds, ranging from Youth Congress activists to degree and diploma holders from reputed universities such as Leeds and Harvard.

The women members of the team include Delhi University English lecturer Ragini Nayak (32) and law graduate Amrita Dhawan (29) who have also been DUSU Presidents in the past.

Sitting municipal councillor Prerna Singh (30), who holds a Masters degree from UK-based Leeds University, and dalit rights activist Rinku Jayanta (39) are also part of the team.

25-year-old political science graduate and activist Anam Hasan has also been included in the team. The party said she has strong IT and social media skills.

Cyber law expert Aman Panwar (26) and advocate Chetanya Singh (25), who holds diploma in Intellectual Rights and International Politics from Cambridge and Harvard universities, are also part of the team.

The other members of the team are Youth Congress leader Rahul Dhaka (29), municipal councillors Aaley Muhammad Iqbal (25) and Abhishek Dutt (35).