Ahmedabad, March 14 (NationPress) In a bid to enhance the representation of youth in the forthcoming local body elections, the Gujarat Congress unit convened a series of strategic meetings involving its newly established election committees this past Saturday in Ahmedabad.

The gatherings, which featured the presence of State Congress In-charge and Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik, focused on evaluating the organizational readiness for the elections, including inter-committee coordination, candidate selection processes, and statewide campaign planning.

As per party insiders, these discussions extended for approximately five hours, with distinct sessions held for each committee.

"These meetings mark the initial assembly since the committees were formed, providing members with insights into their designated roles and responsibilities," a senior party official informed IANS.

Reports indicate that three to four additional meetings are slated for the coming weeks, with the next one anticipated towards the month's end. The state leadership also plans to conduct virtual meetings to assess preparations.

Wasnik emphasized the significance of the upcoming local elections for the party, asserting that meticulous organizational planning is underway.

"These elections hold considerable importance for Congress, and we are preparing to engage with a robust strategy supported by collaboration among the organization, leaders, and workers," he stated, noting that various committees have been established statewide for effective planning.

The election committees comprise the Strategy Committee, Campaign Committee, Programme Implementation Committee, Election Management Committee, Manifesto Committee, Media Committee, and Publicity Committee.

Each committee will consist of approximately 15 to 20 members, including a chairman, vice-chairman, and convener, to facilitate task coordination and implementation, as per party sources.

Discussions also delved into a zone-wise election preparation strategy and targeted outreach initiatives in various sectors.

Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Chavda mentioned that the party has initiated measures to bolster broader societal involvement in the elections.

"For the upcoming local self-government elections, the Congress aims to inspire dedicated and principled individuals from society to participate in politics," he remarked.

In metropolitan areas, systems have been established allowing aspirants to apply via QR codes, enabling "individuals engaged in public service, those addressing community issues, and candidates aligned with the party's ideology to submit applications directly."

Simultaneously, the party organization is conducting interviews with potential candidates at city, district, and taluka levels, with regional observers present.

Party sources highlighted that the candidate selection process will prioritize younger leaders, with nearly 50% of the tickets expected to go to candidates under the age of 50.