Youth Congress members at Town Hall on Monday. (Hardeep Singh)

Ranchi, July 12: Engineers and management graduates thronged for a political career in the first-ever open polls of the state Youth Congress, thanks to the Rahul charisma.

The party youth icon and AICC general secretary with the famous surname and trademark dimple was the inspiration behind 16 educated youths who fought in the state Youth Congress polls. They included two engineers, two management graduates, four postgraduates and a teacher.

With an aim to attract educated and bright youths, last year Rahul had promised to fill up the party’s youth cell through open elections. He had come to Jharkhand on October 14-15 for its campaign. “Rahul Gandhi’s vision to get well-educated competent young men in the party triggered my plunge in politics,” said Abhishek Singh, an MTech student of Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra. The Youth Congress committee offers 10 seats — one each for president and vice-president and eight for general secretaries.

The youth outfit held polls for various posts in its state and Lok Sabha units. Panchayat and Assembly level polls have already been held.

Manas Sinha, a Ranchi University graduate, meanwhile, was elected as president of state Youth Congress.

The new system sparked fresh hope among young women seeking a political career with the Congress. “We are as capable as the men,” said Sayeeda Kamal, a smart, English-speaking candidate.

Among those present in the polls were Alwar MP and Youth Congress in-charge Jitendra Singh, Sangrur MP Vijendra Singla, also election commissioner for the youth cell polls, Rajiv Satav, National Youth Congress president and Manoj Choudhary, Jharkhand pradesh returning officer.