As over 1,200 candidates have submitted applications seeking ticket to contest the Assembly elections in Karnataka, the Congress commenced screening of applications on Thursday.
AICC general secretary Madhusudan Mistry, who is heading the screening committee, said ticket would be issued to candidates based on their “winnability factor”.
The party has instructed all candidates to submit applications with demand draft (DD) and the value will vary for Ministers and ordinary candidates.
While Ministers have to submit applications with a DD of ₹1 lakh, MLAs/MLCs/chairpersons have to pay ₹50,000; former legislators ₹25,000; ordinary general candidates ₹20,000; and SC/ST candidates ₹10,000.
Only one application has been issued to one candidate and the candidate has to specify his constituency and the criteria to get ticket. Apart from Mr. Mistry, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Gaurav Gogoi, party MPs, who are members of the committee, are closely screening applications. After screening, applications will be sent to the central selection committee, which will finalise the candidates, Mr. Mistry said. In the 2013 elections, about 2,000 applications were issued and among them, 1,800 were submitted to the party, the sources said.
