In the Lok Sabha polls the vote of the youth played a decisive role in the victory of the congress. Youth comprises more than 60% of the electorate and they understand that for bringing a change in the governance all they need to do is to come out and vote. All these years political parties used them for their vested interest.

In Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency, Shri. Rahul Gandhi ji, gave an opportunity to Ravneet Bittu, a democratically elected President of Punjab Youth Congress, (an election brainchild of Shri. Rahul Gandhi ji, in which around four lakh youth participated), to contest and bittu worked extensively during the campaign, having covered 960 villages (approx.14500km by road). Uncle S.Tej Parkash Singh, MLA worked hard to reach out to senior party leaders, who once worked with Late S. Beant Singh ji. Apart from this, bittu's mother, wife and sister campaigned door to door in most parts of the constituency. All together attended around 1800 meetings.

People fondly remembered, the time when Late S. Beant Singh ji used to come to their homes, to their villages and they told bittu that today you have come here, on the footsteps of our great leader.

In the course of the campaign, Senior Akali leaders like S. Rajbir Singh Padiala, his mother Bibi Daljeet kaur ex-MLA, Master dalip chand ex-MLA, balachour, alongwith other senior BJP, BSP and Akali workers joined the congress.

The rally organized on May 9, 2009, in Mohali in which Shri. Rahul Gandhi ji participated, showed the respect congress party have for the Sikh Community. A message was successful sent to the masses, that the time has come to strengthen hands of Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Ravneet Singh Bittu, won by a handsome margin of 67,204 votes. Bittu had a comparatively easy ride, thanks to his tremendous following among the youth.

Today, Bittu have become a hope for the youth of Punjab, who feel that the time has come when the leadership must do something to change the lives of people for the better. That is something which is driving the youth and they are going out of the way in strengthening the hands of the congress.

Actually, akali dal today, is finding it hard to take the youth along in Punjab and the very idea of giving an opportunity to Ravneet Singh Bittu, grand son of Late S. Beant Singh ji (chief minister, Punjab) to contest have proved to be a calculated and right decision of the congress.

By: GS Chahal (Gurdaspur)