Nath’s survey for tickets may weigh heavy on Congress

Party faces challenge; damage control may be difficult

The BJP and the Congress have begun to brace up for the forthcoming byelection. The saffron party is doing the damage-control excise for the former Congress legislators who have crossed over to the partyfold. The Congress is facing similar problems.

There are many ticket seekers for 24 constituencies where by-elections will be held. MPCC president Kamal Nath clearly told the ticketseekers that it would be distributed on the basis of a survey. Nath’s survey may spawn resentment among ticket aspirants.

Some of the party leaders, seeking tickets for two seats in Gwalior, created a ruckus in presence of former minister Tarun Bhanot on Saturday. Ticket seekers are also visiting the residences of former minister Govind Singh, Ramniwas Rawat and those of other politicians.

Congress leaders from Gwalior, Chambal and other places visited the house of former chief minister Digvijaya Singh for tickets.

Five to ten leaders from the place where by-polls will be held are demanding tickets. The Congress leaders are on pins and needles because of the demand. Nath’s statement that tickets will be distributed on the basis of a survey has fuelled rebellion in the party in areas where byelections will be held.

Nath wants to bring some leaders from the BJP to the Congress and field them from those seats. In 2018, some BJP leaders lost elections. Premchand Guddu may be fielded from Sanwer and Ajay Singh Kushwaha from Sumawali. Similarly, Balendu Shukla may be fielded from a seat in Gwalior.

Therefore, there is anger among the Congress leaders in those areas. As the Congress men have been fighting for years against those leaders who have been brought from the BJP they are opposed to giving tickets to the party-hoppers.