Inherent in the Congress game plan of fielding a host of youth leaders this time is the "outsider" tag, something which Akalis are preparing to seek mileage on.

All the three first-timers, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Vijay Inder Singla and Sukhwinder Singh Danny, are not contesting from their home turfs. And, all of them have fairly strong opponents, and going ahead without the home advantage will only make matters difficult for them.

The inevitable factor of dissent against these youth candidates-- all have been accommodated in strongholds of heavyweights-- also tends to help the opponents, the Akalis say. Home constituency of Punjab Youth Congress president Bittu, who is contesting from Anandpur Sahib, is Ludhiana.

Danny's home turf is Amritsar, but is contesting from Faridkot, while Vijay Inder Singla, former Punjab Youth Congress chief, has been asked to contest from Sangrur, but he belongs to Patiala.

Akali candidates are all smiles. Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, SAD nominee from Anandpur Sahib, says, "The Congress choice of candidates has made our task easier. The candidate pitted against me is an outsider."

From the constituencies chosen for these youth leaders, the Congress high command had to decide between Congress heavyweights, including Kewal Dhillon, SS Sibia, Bhattal's son Rahul Sidhu, Bir Devinder and even MP Ambika Soni. But it preferred the youth.

Congress leaders are aware of the fact that an overt manifestation of dissent against these youth candidates could be counter-productive.

Talking to The Indian Express, Punjab Congress chief Mohinder Singh Kaypee, who is contesting from Jalandhar, discounts all such propaganda. He says, "All are winnable leaders. They have held responsibilities in Punjab. One replaced the other as the Punjab youth president."

... contd.