Youth Congress organisational polls held after around five years, witnessed Vikrant Bhuria emerge victorious as results were announced on Friday. Due to Covid-19 scare, the polling for the YC took place through online voting recently.
Dr Bhuria is the son of former Union Minister and the Jhabua MLA Kantilal Bhuria, who is seen as a staunch loyalist of former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh.
Agar MLA Vipin Wankhede, the NSUI state head had withdrawn from the race of president and was elected as vice president. Vankhede an active student leader was seen as the strongest claimant for the post but had withdrawn from the race of state president a day ahead of the polling.
Bhuria defeated nearest rival Sanjay Singh by 20420 votes while NSUI state spokeperson Vivek Tripathi secured third place in the race for YC state head. Ajit Baurasi and Pratima Mudgal also got elected as YC vice presidents.
Vivek Tripathi was elected as state secretary. Bhuria was defeated by BJP’s GS Damore for Jhabua assembly poll in year 2018 and was looking for political rehabilitation since then.
Around 1.10 lakh YC members took part in the online voting. It was also speculated in the media that Digvijaya Singh who0 was lobbying hard for Dr Vikrant Bhuria had persuaded Kamal Nath to let son of his loyalist be crowed as YC state head. After Wankhede withdrew his nomination, it was a cakewalk for Bhuria.
To add, the election comes as a vivid reminder of 2011 poll when it was almost certain that Priyavrat Singh, nephew of Digvijay Singh will be elected as the state head even before the final results were announced. Priyavrat had went on to become a minister in Kamal Nath government.
The YC after these polls got a new state head after seven years when Kunal Chaudhary, now an MLA had got elected as the state head. Office-bearers also were elected for the posts of general secretaries, secretaries and district heads.