Congress invests in youngsters from non-dynastic background

The Congress leadership is hopeful that the success of the fellowship could trigger similar exercises to attract younger talent to the Congress party

Over the past couple of weeks, 35 young men and women have sat listening to some of the top Congress leaders at a conference hall in Lutyens Delhi as part of a month-long fellowship programme organised by the party.

All of them are below 30 years of age, hail from across the country and from diverse economic, social and educational backgrounds but also have in common that is unusual to find in Indian politics.

These youths were selected for the fellowship for their interests in social work and policymaking. But ironically for a party like the Congress, their applications were