Guwahati, Dec. 7: Hiranya Bhuyan has emerged victorious in the Assam Pradesh Youth Congress's elections which were held on Thursday and Friday.

After a daylong counting of votes at Rajiv Bhawan, the state Congress headquarters here, Bhuyan was declared elected as the new president of the Youth Congress this evening. He defeated Pranjal Ghatowar by 12 votes.

Bhuyan, who will replace Pijush Hazarika for the Youth Congress's top post, told reporters that he is grateful to the Congress voters for electing him to such an important post. He particularly thanked chief minister Tarun Gogoi, PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita and forest minister Rakibul Hussain for their support.

'I have been entrusted with the job of leading the youth brigade of the Congress at a time the party is passing through a critical phase. I will not let down the party under any circumstances,' Bhuyan said.

Pijush Hazarika, who is also an MLA from Raha constituency in Nagaon district, has been holding the post of Assam Youth Congress president since 2012.

Sons of three prominent Congress leaders were in the race for the presidentship of the Youth Congress.

Pranjal Ghatowar, who was short of 12 votes to the top post, is the son of former Union minister and tea community leader Paban Singh Ghatowar. Manash Bora who came third in terms of getting votes, is the son of cabinet minister Akon Bora. Santanu Bora who was also in the race, is the son of MP Pankaj Bora.

According to rules, Pranjal and Manash will hold the posts of vice-president and general secretary of the Youth Congress respectively.

Sources told The Telegraph that Bhuyan who hails from Tezpur, had the backing of Rakibul Hussain, one of the most influential ministers in the Tarun Gogoi cabinet.

Pranjal was backed by former minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and a section of the dissident group within the Congress Legislature Party.