Even as the list of those who do not wish to contest on a Congress ticket is growing, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Thursday said the speculation that he was reluctant to contest from Ludhiana was unfounded: he stressed that he had already conveyed to the party leadership his willingness to be fielded from the constituency.
The speculation had arisen after he had said that the Congress should not field “tainted” candidates, a remark that was read in the party as his desire to shift to Chandigarh, Mr. Bansal's seat.
However, there are several sitting MPs who have publicly declared that they do not wish to be renominated. On Thursday, alleging neglect of the people of his Pauri Lok Sabha constituency, Congress MP Satpal Maharaj said he would not contest the coming parliamentary elections. “Chief Minister Harish Rawat told the party high command that he will ensure the party's victory from three — Almora, Nainital and Haridwar — out of the five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand. But who will take the responsibility for the two remaining seats of Pauri and Tehri (that bore the brunt of the natural calamity last year)?” he asked.
Similarly, the former Union Minister and former PCC chief Thangkabalu also announced that he would not contest the elections, swelling the list of senior party leaders reluctant to face the polls. He is the second prominent leader from Tamil Nadu after Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan to say he wishes to opt out of elections, after the Congress failed to find an alliance partner in the State.
