Congress workers to decide candidates in 15 constituencies

Process of drawing up list of candidates already underway for Feb 5 poll

After promising “democracy” within the party in ticket distribution, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has now given the go-ahead for candidates in 15 Lok Sabha constituencies to be decided solely by party workers and functionaries.

In the case of most of these seats, the party hasn’t seen much success.

The process of drawing up a list of candidates is already underway for the polls through which the candidates will be selected, scheduled for February 5. Party workers in these constituencies have the option of naming a candidate of their choice. Usually, after a rigorous shortlisting process, the final decision is taken by the central election committee.

Party workers such as elected representatives (members of legislative Assemblies, councillors), pradesh committee chiefs, etc, will select their candidate through secret ballot. Party sources said the number of members who would cast votes stood at 1,000-1,500.

The 15 constituencies include the Jhunjhunu seat,  vacant after the death of party stalwart Sis Ram Ola. The Dakshin Kannada seat in Mangalore has been in the news over a pitched battle between senior party leader B Janardhana Poojary and Union minister Veerappa Moily’s son, Harsha Moily. Now, the candidate will be selected by party members.

On January 17, Rahul Gandhi had assured party leaders at an All India Congress Committee meeting, “We will ask block presidents, workers and district president to directly select the candidates… Before we empower MPs (members of Parliament), MLAs (members of legislative Assembly) and Pradhans, we have to begin by empowering millions of our dedicated workers on the ground. You should be able to enter the political system effortlessly and change your future.”