Taking cognisance of a Newsline report on Saturday about the impact the hike had on young party candidates in the state, the election committee of the IYC, Delhi has announced reduction in fees for general category as well as SC/ST and women candidates.

The report said the candidates in the general category felt the fee for candidature, which was made Rs 2,500, was very high. While fee for contestants of the Youth Congress polls in Punjab, the state where the pilot project for IYC elections was launched, was Rs 1,500 for general category and Rs 750 for SC/ST and women candidates. But it was increased to Rs 2,500 for all categories in Gujarat.

The hike of Rs 1,000 without prior notice had disappointed several young aspirants who wanted to contest the polls, said Poonam Joshi, a student who is contesting from the Akota constituency.

Manek Tagore, the assistant Pradesh Returning Officer, state IYC, said, “The election committee of the IYC took note of the report on the fee hike and reduced it for candidates on March 21.”

Gujarat is the second state where around seven lakh members have registered their names for the IYC elections and will vote on March 29.

Most of the contestants for the polls in the state are either students or have just started earning, said Jignesh Rajwadi who will contest from the Sahervadi constituency.

Guna Shekhar, the IYC returning officer, Vadodara, said, “The aim of the party is to bring educated youth on one platform and elevate them to a higher political level.”