Cong on a sticky wicket in Guj over ticket distribution
AHMEDABAD: The Congress will on Friday finalise its candidates on 89 seats that will go to polls in the first phase of elections in Gujarat on December 9.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi will chair the crucial meeting of the Central Election Committee (CEC) that decides the party candidates from shortlisted contenders. Two party panels at the state level had to sift through the resume of 1,500 applicants of all the 182 constituencies. The CEC will discuss at least three names on each seat before taking the final call.
Polling on the remaining 93 seats will be held in second phase on December 14.
With the D-day approaching, the nervousness among state leaders is obvious. While feeling confident about its chances in Gujarat, the Congress also appears to be on a sticky wicket in terms of ticket distribution, an issue that has cost the party dear in the past elections.
“In the 2007 and 2012 elections, our calculations were upset by wrong selection of candidates. We are keeping our fingers crossed this time,” said a Gujarat Congress leader who did not wish to be named. “We hope the momentum generated by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi remains sustained till the end and the best opportunity we have this time is not squandered.”
Factionalism has been rampant in the Gujarat Congress in the past and “paratroopers”, a term loosely used for political turncoats who switch parties at the time of elections, have also ruined the Congress’ chances on many occasions.
“Ticket distribution is an important element in any elections. Congress will need to withstand pressure from different factions and quarters,” said political analyst Achyut Yagnik.
“This is the best chance for the Congress in Gujarat. They have to tread this path very cautiously otherwise they may lose some seats,” Yagnik added. The real test for the party will begin once the ticket distribution is over.
Keeping its flock together and restricting the number of rebels will be a daunting task for the party leadership. It has to do a fine balancing act to check the repeat of 2012. Apart from getting the caste calculations right, the leadership also has to resist all pressures from senior leaders seeking tickets for their relatives and loyalists.
“The Patel and Dalit agitations clearly suggest caste consciousness. So, caste has not disappeared. Who will decide the winnability?” said Yagnik.
He said the gap between Congress and BJP was around 10% and in the last elections, the Congress lost many seats by a margin of less than 5,000 votes. “That also, they have to keep in mind.”
Congress leaders, however, dismiss suggestions that the rebels will play the spoilsport in the polls. “It’s a do or die situation for every Congress leader and worker in Gujarat. So, we don’t anticipate much rebel trouble this time,” party spokesperson Kailash Kumar Gadhvi said.