Srinivas BV emphasized that it's not feasible to allocate all seats to youth, as there is a winnability criteria to consider.
In an interview with HT’s Saubhadra Chatterji, Srinivas BV, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) chief, emphasized that the IYC is committed to taking the party’s manifesto to two crore households and highlighted unemployment as the most pressing issue in the country. Srinivas, though not contesting polls, plays a crucial role in ensuring that first-time voters exercise their franchise in the ongoing Lok Sabha election.
Addressing the challenge posed by the BJP's aggressive pursuit of young and first-time voters, Srinivas noted the impact of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra on inspiring youth to support the Congress. He pointed out that despite the BJP's promises of job creation and 'Achhe Din,' the reality of unfulfilled pledges has become apparent to first-time voters. Srinivas highlighted the rise in unemployment over the past decade as a significant concern.
Regarding the outreach efforts of the IYC, Srinivas explained that the organization aims to distribute guarantee cards to two crore households, a goal they are actively working towards. Despite the challenges posed by the current OTP system, which some individuals are wary of, Srinivas expressed optimism about reaching their target through door-to-door campaigns.
With respect to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Srinivas indicated that the IYC has already reached 40 lakh families, and their campaign will continue until the end of the month, ultimately aiming to reach over two crore people. He emphasized the widespread awareness among households about the issue of unemployment and criticized the BJP for its failure to address the problem effectively.
Srinivas also criticized the BJP for evading discussions on issues such as inflation and unemployment and accused them of hypocrisy in their treatment of allegations against their own party members. He highlighted instances of BJP leaders facing allegations of sexual crimes while the party continues to shield them.
Responding to concerns about the dominance of established political families in candidate selection, Srinivas defended the inclusion of youth leaders in the Congress' candidate list and emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between youth representation and winnability criteria.
Lastly, Srinivas affirmed his readiness to take responsibility for the tasks assigned to him and criticized the BJP for its failure to address the concerns of the youth, particularly regarding unemployment and rising prices.
