When Akhilesh Yadav refused to entertain mafia don DP Yadav in the recently concluded Uttar Pradesh elections, he effectively asserted what hours of public speeches could not have achieved — no tolerance for candidates with criminal background. This action seems to have inspired others and a reflection, albeit diminutive in the larger perspective - can be seen in Indian Youth Congress’s elections in Gujarat.
The central election authority overseeing elections of nine senior posts of YC in the state has disqualified incumbent president Indravijaysinh Gohil due to pending criminal cases against him. This is the first time such a bold step has been taken in Gujarat. Though an official statement by the IYC states "Gohil has withdrawn his nomination from the Pradesh YC elections on the request of YC to allow more youth leadership to emerge", sources confided that the decision was taken looking at the pending cases against him.
Pradesh Returning Officer for Gujarat Rajpalsingh Bisht said there are 19 other candidates for the president’s post and they must be given a chance. Gohil was contesting for his second consecutive term as president and he was the NSUI president earlier. A party functionary said this action would send a strong message to the young cadres that violence and crime is condemned not just in words but also in action. “With the assembly elections in a few months, it is hoped that the party keeps this in mind while deciding candidates as well,” he said.
