Congress struggles to counter P.J. Kurien’s take on Youth Congress leadership

The Congress on Monday seemed to struggle to put behind party veteran P.J. Kurien’s seemingly discomfiting criticism that the Youth Congress (YC) lacked boots on the ground when compared to its main political rivals, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]-affiliated Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Students Federation of India (SFI).

A section of Congress leaders reportedly felt that Mr. Kurien had inadvertently played into the SFI-DYFI narrative that the Youth Congress leadership led an ivory tower existence far removed from the travails of ordinary people and seemed mono-maniacally fixated on creating “self-promotional” social media content instead of championing public causes.

‘Ego conflicts’

Mr. Kurien’s alleged attempt to “single out Chandy Oommen, MLA, as a laudable exception of youth leadership,” given the latter’s “ubiquitous grassroots level presence in the community”, also reportedly came under criticism from within the Congress, given its supposed “potential to spur personality clashes and ego conflicts” among young leaders.

Disconcertingly for the party leadership, Mr. Kurien unapologetically reiterated his position on Monday. “I do not see any young Congress leaders in my constituency,” he told reporters in Kottayam. 

The supposed disgruntlement with Mr. Kurien among a section of the party’s leadership seemed reflected in Congress veteran K.C. Joseph’s words on social media.

He said Mr. Kurien’s “praise” for SFI-DYFI belied the YC-KSU’s relentless struggles against the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s wrongdoings. “Nobody needs to praise them. But at least, they can refrain from setting the hounds on them,” Mr. Joseph wrote.

In support of YC

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan defended the Youth Congress and the KSU by stating that Congress had an enviable young leadership. “Youth Congress and KSU workers suffered police excesses and endured long spells of incarceration for standing up for people’s causes. Some quarters are irked by their covetable public acceptance,” he said.

However, Mr. Kurien appeared to find some support among a section of senior Congress leaders. For one, Ramesh Chennithala stated that Mr. Kurien’s words were wise counsel and the party should take them in the correct spirit.