Loyalty, winnability deciding factors for a Congress ticket in Karnataka

As Congress aims to come to power in Karnataka with an absolute majority, DK Shiva Kumar had on Tuesday said that the recent survey has predicted a tally of over 140 seats for the party.

The Congress is considering loyalty as well as chances of victory as deciding factors to select tickets for the crucial Karnataka elections due in May.

Winnability, social justice, and commitment to party are the major criteria being considered for ticket distribution, Congress chief in Karnataka, D K Shivakumar noted and said efforts are on to reach out to aspirants in several constituencies to have unanimity on the candidates.

"We have discussed 170 seats, still about 50 odd seats are left. We will discuss and send our opinion to the Central Election Committee. There is unanimity in opinion, everything is going on smoothly without any confusion," Shivakumar said. Speaking to reporters here, he said he was also making efforts to reach out to those who had applied for tickets, to ensure that there is unanimity and there are no differences regarding the candidates.

"I am calling leaders and ticket aspirants in about 50-60 constituencies to iron out differences, if any, from tomorrow.. I'm speaking to those from Chikkamagaluru this evening, to ensure that there is unanimity. Everyone will have desire as they are confident that Congress will win the polls and it will come to power, defeating the BJP," he added.

Senior Congress leader Mohan Prakash is the chair of the screening committee, which has party leaders Neeraj Dangi, Mohammed Jawed and Saptagiri Ulaka as members.

Shivakumar, CLP Leader Siddaramaiah, AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, Leader of the Opposition in Council B K Hariprasad, KPCC Campaign Committee Chief M B Patil, manifesto committee chief G Parameshwara, and AICC secretaries in charge of Karnataka are its ex-officio members.

Responding to a question, Shivakumar said winnability is important for the party and not individuals.

"Keeping this in mind, we will select the candidates, along with that social justice and commitment to the party will also be kept in mind," he said.

As Congress aims to come to power in Karnataka with an absolute majority, the KPCC chief had on Tuesday said that the recent survey has predicted a tally of over 140 seats for the party.