The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) has officially rolled out a major recruitment drive aimed at bolstering its communication and media outreach teams. This initiative is part of the All India Congress Committee's (AICC) broader National Talent Hunt Programme.
Structured Search for Political Communicators
Formally inaugurated at the party's Rajiv Bhawan headquarters in Shimla by HPCC president Vinay Kumar, the program seeks to identify and train a new cadre of party representatives. The committee is actively inviting applications from educated, politically aware, and experienced youth across the state for several key roles. These positions include party spokespersons, media panellists, research coordinators, and publicity coordinators.
The objective is to select candidates through a rigorous, multi-stage process, as outlined by the program's state coordinator, Bhavani Singh Pathania, who also serves as the Chairman of the State Planning Commission and is an MLA. Pathania emphasized that the selection will prioritize both education and practical experience.
Key Dates and Selection Timeline
The HPCC has announced a clear schedule for the talent hunt. Prospective candidates must submit their applications by January 5. Following this, the scrutiny of applications is scheduled for January 9.
The interview process will then be conducted in phases:
- Regional-level interviews are set to take place from January 12 to 15.
- The final stage will consist of state-level interviews and group discussions on January 21.
A Nationwide Campaign for Democratic Awareness
Chitra Batham, the national coordinator for the program and AICC in-charge for Himachal Pradesh, provided the political context for this initiative. She accused the BJP-led central government of misusing its authority to suppress democratic values and undermine constitutional principles.
In response, she stated, the Congress has decided to launch a nationwide campaign to create awareness among people in both villages and cities through trained party spokespersons. This talent hunt in Himachal Pradesh is a direct component of that larger strategy, aiming to equip the party with skilled communicators who can effectively convey its message and counter the ruling dispensation's narrative.
The move signals the Congress party's intent to systematically strengthen its grassroots and media-facing operations ahead of future electoral challenges, banking on a fresh pool of trained talent to connect with the public.
