The All India Congress Committee has given a clear mandate to find the correct person to lead the Dakshina Kannada district unit of the party and bring back the party’s past glory in the region, said Kozhikode North MLA K. Jayanth, the AICC observer for selecting the President of Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee, in Mangaluru on Tuesday (July 28, 2026).

The Congress’s committee comprising of Mr. Jayanth, former MP Jayaprakash Hegde, Udupi District Mahila Congress President Veronica Cornelio, and party workers Satish and Shivanand, will receive nominations of aspirants and hold consultation across the district till August 12.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Jayanth said, “Nobody’s ‘man’ will automatically become the DCC President or get any post. We will discuss with all senior leaders including Veerappa Moily, Janardhan Poojary and Minister U.T. Khader. We will consult everyone. It will not be like the old practice where a district just goes to a particular leader’s nominee. It is a clear mandate given to us by the AICC to find the correct name,” he said.

Mr. Jayanth said the Congress earlier followed the practice of consulting party seniors and selecting the district party unit president. It was decided to change such a practice in the party’s plenary session in Ahmedabad. This new process has been initiated to strengthen the party from the grassroots.

Out of the more than 800 district party committees, the process of selecting the president has been completed in 600 districts. In some districts, fresh faces, who have never been in the Congress top leadership or district top leadership, have become President.

“The party aspires to see all faces, and address all groups. But that doesn’t mean this district belongs to a particular community or a particular religion,” Mr. Jayanth specified. The district president will play a prime role in the party in selection of candidates for Asssembly and other elections.

Not just the President, the five-member committee will also recommend names of party workers capable of handling different responsibilities at the district level. “We will suggest names and AICC will take ultimate call. The party is working towards winning all the Assembly seats in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts,” Mr. Jayanth said.

Aspirants can submit their nomination forms to the committee members. Age is not a criteria for the region as the ability to lead the party matters the most, Mr. Jayanth said. “We have enough experience to evaluate aspirants. We will interview them and give our suggestions to the AICC,” .

Published - July 28, 2026 06:22 pm IST