Rajasthan: Cong discontent over ticket distribution

Workers protest outside Rahul Gandhi's residence

Congress workers from Rajasthan protested in front of party national president Rahul Gandhi's residence and tried to heckle the state unit president Sachin Pilot on Saturday alleging that the party leaders are giving tickets to newcomers by ignoring loyalists in the state assembly polls.

With the party releasing the second list of candidates for coming elections in the state, a large number of supporters of aspirants gathered in front of Rahul Gandhi's residence on Tughlaq lane in the national capital and lodged their protest.

When Sachin Pilot was coming out from Rahul Gandhi's residence after a meeting on candidates selection, workers banged on his car and shouted slogans. Soon Centre Reserve Police Force and Delhi Police rushed to the spot to control the crowd.

The party has already announced the candidates for 184 assembly segments in the state of the total 200 seats.

One of the disgruntled party worker alleged that some of the party leaders in Rajasthan sold the tickets, sidelining the deserving candidates, and collected huge money from the aspirants.

"How can the party win the polls unless those working for the organisation for long and loyal to party ideology do not get tickets," the angry party worker said.

Another group demanded the party to give Tijara assembly segment ticket to former MLA Aimaduddin Ahmed Khan (Durrumiyan).

In Rajasthan, where BJP is facing a strong anti-incumbency wave, Congress seems to have an edge. However, problems in the distribution of tickets is haunting the grand old party. Workers have protested alleging the party was giving importance to parachute candidates by ignoring loyal workers.