Perhaps for the first time in the history of the Congress, an electoral college comprising nearly 500 office-bearers of various units of the party, such as district Congress committees and block Congress committees, will select the party’s candidate for two seats in the Lok Sabha elections: Dakshina Kannada and Bangalore North.
Speaking to presspersons, KPCC president G. Parameshwara said this was part of a pilot project of the AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi to introduce this unique experiment in 15 Lok Sabha constituencies across the country.
Terming the experiment as ‘prelims’, he also allayed fears that this was an attempt at denying ticket to the former Union Minister B. Janardhana Poojary.
He also denied it was a kind of discrimination between candidates in other constituencies.
AICC general secretary and MP B.K. Hariprasad is also seeking ticket from Bangalore North constituency.
On the issue of giving ticket to UIDAI Chairman Nandan Nilekani for contesting from Bangalore South Assembly Constituency, Dr. Parameshwara said though he has officially joined the Congress, his name was yet to be cleared. He added that he was likely to get a chance to contest.
Rahul’s invitationCommending the call given by Mr. Gandhi inviting people to join the Congress, as it has been following the aam admi principles since its inception and working for the Dalits, Backward Classes, Minorities and the poor, Dr. Parameshwara said there was meaning in his call.
He said Mr. Gandhi had made some changes in organising the Martyr’s Day on January 30.
He would administer oath to the party workers in New Delhi, which would be aired at the party functions across the country.
Possible postponementHe said the screening committee meeting for selection of list of candidates may be postponed in view of the participation of Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the inauguration of the super specialty high-tech hospital and public meeting in Gulbarga on February 1.
