Cong list out, bigwigs get tickets for wives, sons

The Congress Party on Sunday declared its list of 263 candidates for the municipal elections 2012 while it was joyous moment for those whose name appeared in the list, many others felt heartbroken. Nine wards are pending where the candidates are yet to be finalised.

Angry ticket-seekers, whose name was missing, gathered outside the Delhi State Congress office at Deen Dyal Upadhyaya Marg and raised slogans against the party leaders alleging them corrupt.

As a result of the hooliganism, the party office was locked from inside for several hours in the morning while police was deployed.

Leader of the Opposition in present MCD, Jai Kishen Sharma and sitting councillors Mukesh Goel and Chaudhary Ajit Singh will be contesting again. 

The Congress State bigwigs managed tickets for their wives, sons and daughters. There are at least 12 wards where husbands managed tickets for the wives or wives have been replaced by husbands.

Veteran Congress leader Deen Bandhu succeeded in getting a ticket for his daughter in law Sheel Bandhu from Ashok Vihar. Kapil Nagar who has been given a ticket from Kamla Nagar, is the son of Congress leader Nathu Ram Nagar, while Prerna Singh from Inderlok ward is wife of sitting MLA Tarun Singh.

Uma Sharma who got a ticket from Kashmere Gate is wife of known Congress leader Harsh Sharma while Pramod Chaudhary, son of senior Congress leader and spokesman Chaudhary Prem Singh has been given a ticket from Ambedkar Nagar ward.

Jeetender Kochar, two-time councillor managed to get a ticket for his wife Nutan Kochar from Hauz Rani ward. Congress MP Mahabal Mishra also succeeded in getting a ticket for his brother's wife Nirmala Devi.

Congress has given 146 seats to women candidates, 24 of which belong to the schedule caste (SC) category. The finalisation of ticket also brought people's vent out in open for being ignored. Angry supporters of Javed, who was aspiring a ticket from Hauz Rani raised slogan against the area MLA and Social Welfare Minister in Delhi government, Kiran Walia for “betraying him”.

According to Javed, not only Kiran Walia but also MP Ajay Maken had promised him the ticket. “There are 60 per cent muslims in the Hauz Rani ward. I was promised ticket by Maken as well as Walia. They have betrayed us,” said Javed. He added that he will contest as an independent. Similar rhetoric were heard from other disappointed men or women who failed to get tickets. 

However, Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit played down the issue. “There are always some people who do not get ticket and get angry. We will pacify them,” said Dikshit.