aGED, defeated Congressmen unlikely to get ticket

Jaipur, Sep 2 (UNI) Congress activists who have sustained successive defeats in assembly polls in 1998 and 2003 or crossed the age of 70 will not be recommended for party tickets in the next assembly election due to be held by November this year, state party President CP Joshi said today.

The party State election committee, which held its second formal meeting here today, has evolved a broad consensus over criteria for recommending the names of ticket aspirants to the party screening committee, Mr Joshi told reporters here.

He said that those who lost their security deposits or bagged less than 25 per cent of the polled votes in the previous elections would not be recommended for the tickets. Likewise, candidates with criminal background or tainted public image would also be denied consideration for the party ticket.

Sons, daughters or relatives of the prominent party leaders might be considered for the party ticket only on merit and based on their role, activity and contribution in party affairs.

He said that PEC members were urged to forward their panels of prospective candidates to the screening committee by tonight. The screening committee was expected to meet after September 8 in New Delhi to take further course of action in the process of selection of the party nominees.

If the criterion, evolved at the PEC meeting, was implemented strictly by the screening committee and the central election committee, several prominent leaders including former party State Presidents Ram Narayan Chaudhary and Narayan Singh, former Chief Minister Jagannath Pahadia, and former Deputy Chief Ministers Kamla and Banvari Lal Bairwa are unlikely to get party tickets.

UNI SS RR GC1800