Relatives of netas eyeing tickets in R'than by-polls

Immediately after the announcements of by-elections for four Assembly seats in Rajasthan, both Congress and BJP leaders have started lobbying for party tickets.

Interestingly, relatives of former MPs and MLAs are among the frontrunners to stake claim for party tickets in both BJP and Congress.

Weir constituency in Bharatpur is reserved for SC candidates and sources in Congress said former Haryana governor Jagannath Paharia’s sons Om Prakash and Sanjay Paharia are lobbying hard for a party ticket. 

In BJP, sitting Bharatpur MP Bahadur Singh Koli’s son Bablu Koli is competing with ex-MP Ramswaroop Koli for a ticket.

Sunil Gurjar and Mahendra Gurjar are trying hard for Congress ticket from Nasirabad constituency. Both are relatives of late Puducherry governor Govind Singh Gurjar.

For a BJP ticket, its Ajmer MP and state cabinet minister Sanwar Lal Jat’s son, is trying hard for a ticket.

Similarly, from Surajgarh constituency, Congress ticket is being claimed by ex-MLA Shrawan Kumar, who is facing allegations of anti-party activities during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP ticket is being claimed by Jhunjhunu’s sitting MP Santosh Ahlawat’s husband Surendra Ahlawat, Nita Yadav and Mool Singh Shekhawat.

For Kota South constituency, Congress may field former minister Shanti Dhariwal, who was UDH minister in the previous Congress government and lost in the previous Assembly elections.

Congress has no option as he is the only renowned leader it can bet on from this area. BJP is said to be considering sitting Kota MP Om Birla’s wife Krishna Birla, Shyam Sharma and Prachi Dixit.
PCC chief Sachin Pilot announced not to wear the turban until and unless Congress again comes into power. The same goes for putting on garlands, a traditional offering of welcome.

Pilot in a Congress function said the party suffered its worst defeat ever and he felt it was inappropriate to accept turbans and garlands in any public functions.

“Instead of accepting garlands, we should put our heads down and ponder over the reasons for our worst defeat ever, both in the state and at the Centre. The decision not to wear a turban and and accept garlands was spontaneous,” said Pilot.

The move is also seen as a message to motivate the demoralised Congress workers.

Pilot said time has come when leaders need to play the role of party workers so that grassroot workers connect with the party.

Turbans are an important part of men’s attire in Rajasthan and also associated with the social status of a person. Meanwhile, BJP leaders are of the view that Congress is playing a trick to woo voters, especially from rural background.

“Congress has no issue so they are resorting to such trick to woo voters emotionally,” a senior BJP leader said.