90 UP Youth Congress office-bearers suspended for not showing up at Ramlila Maidan rally

Nearly 90 young leaders from the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) in Uttar Pradesh have been suspended without pay due to their absence from recent party rallies in the national capital, including a significant protest at Ramlila Maidan on November 1. The suspensions, announced on November 12, target office-bearers holding various positions such as state vice-presidents, general secretaries, secretaries, and district presidents.

The IYC cited a need for increased attendance at party events as the reason for the disciplinary action, which aimed to ensure active participation of its youth wing members in party activities.

Among those affected, 67 office-bearers hail from eastern Uttar Pradesh, including three state vice-presidents. The suspended individuals include 33 general secretaries, 18 secretaries, a joint secretary, and 12 district presidents. District presidents from various regions, including Ballia, Basti, Chandauli, Kaushambi, Kushinagar, Mau, Mirzapur, Prayagraj, Sant Kabir Nagar, Siddharthnagar, Varanasi, and Maharajganj, have been implicated in the list.

Vishal Singh, IYC state president for the East Zone, mentioned that while 67 names are on the suspension list, some may be removed later based on submitted proof of attendance or explanations for their absence. Deepak Shivhare, Youth Congress state president for the Central Zone, confirmed that 12 of his zone's office-bearers, including district presidents, general secretaries, and secretaries, had been suspended.

He stated that the IYC had reviewed the situation and determined that participants should be able to devote time to party activities, thereby initiating the appointment of new office-bearers to fill vacant positions.

The suspensions come at a crucial time for the Congress party as it seeks to bolster its organizational structure in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The move reflects a firm stance by the youth wing in enforcing accountability and ensuring active participation in the party's political programs and protests.