CHENNAI: The statewide election of the All India Youth Congress, which will be held shortly, will mirror many practices followed in the general elections.

The elections to various committees of the youth wing of the Congress party will feature pre-prepared voters lists, candidates’ symbols on ballot paper, secret ballot and the all-pervasive indelible ink. The Youth Congress has even set up an internal Election Commission to ensure fair elections.

Elections to state committees of the Youth Congress have become a regular feature ever since Rahul Gandhi took charge. Elections in Punjab, Gujarat and Daman & Diu, for instance, have even featured disqualification of candidates for breach of party discipline.

“We will have zero tolerance for candidates with criminal records. We have also prohibited huge banners or cutouts of any sort. We will reject the nominations of candidates who are even slightly out-of-line on these fronts”, said K J Rao, a former advisor to the Election Commission of India, who is overseeing the Youth Congress elections as part of the Foundation for Advanced Management of Elections (FAME).

He said over 14 lakh Youth Congress members have registered to vote in the elections and all of their names had been compiled into panchayatlevel voters lists.

Congress party functionaries from other states will function as returning officers for the elections, the nominations for which begin on February 28. The elections will be held in a staggered manner, with three-day polling for the committees of 20006 panchayats and all the Lok Sabha and state assembly constuituencies.