No promise of tickets to party-hoppers, says Oscar

This may come as a bitter pill to those who are knocking the doors of the Congress to further their political future.

AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes said leaders will be allowed to join the Congress, but no assurance will be given to them that they will be the party candidates in the Assembly elections.

Oscar, when contacted by this newspaper on Saturday, said he had been told by the State leaders that none of the MLAs from non-Congress parties who quit their parties recently had been promised by the Congress that they would be the party’s nominees in the elections.

“Any decision to allow outsiders to the party will be taken only after the urban local body elections. If people want, they are welcome to join the party provided they accept the party principles. At this juncture, no assurance will be given to them that they will be given the tickets to contest the Assembly polls,” he said.

Asked whether he was aware that at least seven migrants had already managed to get the party’s assurance on the tickets, Oscar claimed that he had been told that no such assurance had been given.

“Rahul Gandhi has categorically said the party should be built on its cadre strength. He is of the firm view that the cadre should get its due. He has said this on the basis of experience. Even in Karnataka, the same principle is adopted,“ he said.