Cong faces selection test in Jaipur

CONSIDER FIELDING A JAIN: FORMER MP

The Congress is finding it challenging to identify winnable candidates for the nine assembly seats in Jaipur city, considered a BJP bastion. Close to a dozen candidates contended for ticket from each seat. Using filters – AICC secretaries’ report, survey and senior leaders’ suggestions – the Congress has shortlisted one to three names for each seat, but the brainstorming is still going on in Delhi, a senior party leader said.

The nine seats are Sanganer, Malviya Nagar, Civil Lines, Kishanpole, Hawa Mahal, Adarsh Nagar, Amer, Jhotwara and Vidhyadhar Nagar. Barring Civil Lines and Hawa Mahal, the Congress lost seven twice in a row.

Of the nine seats, eight are now with the BJP and one (Amer) with the National People’s Party. In 2008, the BJP won six and the Congress three.

The senior leader associated with the selection process said candidates have almost been finalised for Malviya Nagar, Civil Lines and Kishanpole constituencies. “The party is struggling is to identify new faces. If the parameter of denying ticket to those who lost twice in row, new faces have to be picked for Jhotwara and Vidhyadhar Nagar. Choosing new faces over established ones is not an easy task.”

He said social engineering was to be kept in mind while selecting candidates. “The exercise is going on and the list will be announced after Diwali.”

JAIPUR ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES Sanganer:

The BJP has been winning the seat except in 1993 when Congress’s Indira Mayaram was elected. MLA Ghanshayam Tiwari, who left the BJP recently, has been winning the seat since 2003. Tiwari had defeated Congress’ Sanjay Bapna in 2013 polls with a margin of 65,380 votes.

Congress leaders eyeing the seat are Pushpendra Bharadwaj, Sunil Parwani, and Suresh Mishra. The party is also considering a face from the Mali community, Congress sources said.

Former Jaipur MP Mahesh Joshi has urged the Congress screening committee to consider fielding a member from the Jain community. With his letter to the panel, Joshi has forwarded a memorandum by Shri Shwetambar Jain Shrimal Sabha, which is demanding ticket to a candidate from the community for Malviya Nagar constituency. Sabha secretary Shanti Chand Jargad suggested four

Malviya Nagar: The constituency was part of Johari Bazar before delimitation. BJP MLA Kali Charan Saraf won the seat in the last two elections. In 2013, he defeated Congress’ Archana Sharma by 48,718 votes.

Sharma is a strong contender for the seat as she has been active for the last four years, said leaders associated with the selection process. Others eyeing the seat are Sanjay Bapna, Mahesh Sharma, KK Haritwal, Asha Kala and Susheel Sharma. names – Vivek Kala, Sumer Bothra, Akshay Jain and Anjana Jain. In the letter to screening committee member Lalitesh Tripathi, Joshi said, “I have received this memorandum. The mentioned candidates are old workers and I know them. I urge the committee to consider the sentiments of the community people.” Joshi told HT, “I have just forwarded the memorandum... it is up to the party to decide.”

Civil Lines: After delimitation, Conrgess candidate Pratap Singh Khachariyawas won the seat in 2008 but lost to BJP’s Arun Chaturvedi in 2013 by 11,129 votes. District Congress chief Pratap Singh is most likely to be the party candidate from the seat.

Kishanpole :A traditional BJP seat, Congress’ Mahesh Joshi had won in 1998. After that the seat has been with BJP’s Mohan Lal Gupta. In 2013, Gupta defeated Congress’ Amin Kagzi by 9685 votes. In last two elections, the Congress has fielded a minority candidate from the seat. Kagzi is most likely to be the candidate again, but Jaipur’s exmayor Jyoti Khandelwal is also a contender, party sources said.

Hawa Mahal:Except in 2008 when Congress’ Brij Kishore Sharma won, the BJP has been winning the seat. In 2013, BJP’s Surendra Pareek won by 12715 votes. This time Sharma is a probable Congress candidate from the seat. Others eyeing for ticket are Brij Kishore Sharma, ex-MP Mahesh Joshi and Sunil Sharma, party sources said.

Adarsh Nagar: Former BJP president Ashok Parnami won the seat, formed after delimitation, in 2013, defeating Congress’ Mahir Azad by 3803 votes. The Congress has fielded a minority candidate from the seat in the last few elections. Probable candidates are Rajiv Arora, Umr Daraz, AA Khan (Duru miyan), Rafiq Khan and Shabbir Khan, said leaders involved in selection.

Amber:Congress candidate Sehdev Sharma had won the seat in 1998, Lal Chand Kataria in 2003, and Ganga Sahay Sharma in 2008. In 2013 the seat went to National People’s Party candidate Naveen Pilania who defeated BJP’s Satish Poonia by 329 votes.

In the coming elections, Ganga Sharma is a probable Congress candidate with Sehdev’s son Prashant Sharma giving a tough fight, party sources said.

Jhotwara: BJP’s Rajpal Singh Shekhawat won the seat, formed after delimitation, in the last two elections. Congress fielded Lal Chand Kataria in 2008 and Kataria’s brother’s wife in 2013. Probable candidates are Lal Chand Kataria, Sumit Bhagasara, Rajesh Choudhary and Mukesh Verma, Congress sources said.

Vidhyadhar Nagar: BJP’s Narpat Singh Rajvi, son-in-law of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, won the seat in the last election, defeating Congress’ Vikram Singh by 37,913 votes. Singh has lost twice, so may not be fielded again. Denying him ticket might annoy Rajputs, traditional BJP supporters but are considering throwing their weight behind the Congress.

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