Winnability to be sole criteria for Congress tickets in Maharashtra

Relatives of ministers, leaders not to be entertained despite strong lobbying

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Saturday snubbed Industries Minister Narayan Rane, saying the Congress will give tickets for the upcoming Assembly election only to winnable candidates and not relatives of party leaders. The Congress would face the elections, slated for October,  under the leadership of Chavan.

Recently, Rane had said he would contest from Kudal, while his younger son Nitesh would be fielded from the Kankavali seat in the Konkan region.

Chavan told other ministers and party leaders not to press for tickets for their relatives. Incidentally, Chavan has already got tacit support of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice-President Rahul Gandhi.

Further, Chavan, who downplayed rebellion by Rane, also indicated that the party should not succumb to those indulging in anti-party activities for getting tickets.

A minister in the state government and state Congress executive member, who did not want to be identified, told Business Standard: ''Chavan has already done his homework and held region-wise meetings with party leaders on distribution of tickets. Elective merit will be the leading criteria and Chavan will not compromise on his stand.''

Moreover, Chavan has asked party workers to gear up and focus on micro management of polling booths, especially by using social media.

"Though the Congress government of Rajiv Gandhi had been credited with bringing mobile and computer technologies, Congress has failed to exploit social media. In the (upcoming) Assembly polls, Congress will not lag behind in using it to ensure proper planning for voting and will engage a majority of youth voters with the party," Chavan recently told party members.