No Cong tickets for tainted aspirants

Civic polls: Political parties in preparation mode

The Congress party seems to be in a dilemma when it comes to fielding candidates with a clean track record for the Assembly elections.

But it is not so in the case of the urban local body (ULB) elections. It has decided not to issue tickets to those having criminal records.

Speaking to reporters on Monday in the city, who asked him whether candidates having criminal background would be allowed to contest the Assembly polls, KPCC President Parameshwara did not offer a direct reply, but said such things would be decided by the high command.

“At present, winning the ULB polls is important to us. If we have to win the Assembly polls, we need to perform well in the ULB polls. As much as 30 per cent of the total voters will be exercising their franchise in the ULB polls. We will educate voters regarding the failures of the BJP government. Soon we will release the election manifesto,” he said.

Parameshwara said the district-level party committees comprising MLAs, MPs, Youth Congress and women leaders and party observers will select the candidates for the ULB polls.

The responsibility of selecting suitable candidates is left to the presidents of the committees. The party will give priority to youngsters and women while giving tickets, he said. He chaired a meeting of the office-bearers and observers appointed for the ULB polls at the Congress Bhavan.

The meeting was attended by B L Shankar, B K Chandrashekhar, Veeranna Mathikatti, Karianna, Rani Satish, among others.

In the evening, Parameshwara and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah left for Delhi to discuss the issue of ULB elections with the party high command as well as that of allowing a section of the BJP MLAs and Independents to contest the Assembly polls on Congress tickets.

The Delhi leaders are yet to give the final clearance for allowing ‘migrants’ into the party, ahead of the polls. The local leaders are keen on roping in the ‘migrants’ so that they and their followers work for the party during the ULB polls.