KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel has said that the party would prioritise issues of youth in the upcoming local level elections.

Paudel said so on Friday while addressing a delegation representing the YOUth Vote Nepal campaign, a joint initiative of various youth organisations launched to promote youths’ concerns in elections.

"Nepali Congress and I are sensitive to youth issues and will make possible efforts," said Paudel. The senior NC leader, who is also coordinator of the party's Local Level Elections Central Coordinating Committee, also made his commitment not to mobilise school children during the electioneering.

The campaigners demanded that youth should be prioritised in candidacy during the upcoming polls. Likewise, they demanded a due prioritisation of youths’ issues including employment and self-employment and more budget allocation in youth-focused programmes in election manifestoes of the party.

The YOUth Vote Nepal campaign was launched to carry out advocacy on youths’ agendas during the upcoming local elections. As many as 13 youth-led organisations are constituents of the campaign; including Yuwalaya, Achel Natya Samuha, Glocal Khabar, Sathi Sanga Manka Kura radio programme, We for Change, Yuwa, YAV Nepal, Sirjansil Samaj Nepal, Youth Initiative, Active Youth Society, Jagriti Child and Youth Concern Nepal and Dynamic Youth Forum.