Rahul rap for AP unit

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday stayed the appointment of Andhra Pradesh Youth Congress executive committee after he received complaints of large-scale discrepancies in the list.

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday stayed the appointment of Andhra Pradesh Youth Congress executive committee after he received complaints of large-scale discrepancies in the list.

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Confirming the move, Indian Youth Congress (IYC) permanent secretary Nitin Sharma said in a statement that the list — announced in Hyderabad on Tuesday — is “stayed and no one shall act upon the list”.

Youth Congress sources said there were allegations that some candidates had used “money power” and “influence” during the interviews to get elected as members of the Andhra Pradesh Youth Congress and its district, city and block level units. “Instead of the talented youth, there were complaints that unscrupulous candidates with criminal background had made it to the list,” a Youth Congress leader said on the condition of anonymity.

But IYC president Rajeev Satav said the list was put on hold as some “additions” had to be made. “Some people had complained that their names should have been in the list,” he said.

The interviews were part of Gandhi’s countrywide “talent hunt” programme to democratise the Youth Congress.

Though he has barred the entry of criminals in the Youth Congress, the recent polls have thrown instances where the youth with criminal background managed to get elected to the organisation by using “all means”.