Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Parameshwara on Sunday said the sitting MLAs of the party will be given the ticket to contest the next Assembly polls, only if they have bright chances of getting re-elected.

The party always follows certain criteria for giving the ticket. A survey will soon be conducted on the popularity of the sitting MLAs. The ticket will be given to those who are capable of winning the seat again.

“As the KPCC president, I would like to give the ticket to all the 124 party MLAs. But, it is the party high command which takes the decision in this regard,” he said while interacting with the media here.

He refused to comment on whether the Congress is planning to have a pre-poll alliance with other parties, including the JD(S). “I don’t want to comment on this (pre-poll alliance) now. We are confident of winning 124 seats again and coming back to power. Moreover, it is as good as accepting the defeat if I start talking about alliance,” he stated, indicating that the party is open for all options.

Asked whether he is an aspirant for the post of chief minister after the 2018 Assembly elections, Parameshwara said: “All politicians aspire for power. It is said that the party president is a natural contender for the post. But I have not submitted any application seeking the post. It is the legislature party that finally selects the chief minister. We all have to agree if the legislature party decides to make Siddaramaiah the chief minister again.”

He said the Congress has honoured him by allowing him to continue as the KPCC president. The state unit will work as a team and strive towards bringing the party back to power in the next elections. He denied speculations in a section of the media that the ruling party is planning to advance the elections.

The KPCC president praised former chief minister S M Krishna, who recently quit the Congress and joined the BJP, as a good administrator.