Cong tickets: Call for merit over quota

NEW DELHI: A desperate call to stamp out the infamous but all-pervasive "quota system" was raised at the CWC meeting, with speakers from poll-bound states saying the practice of the satraps distributing tickets among their supporters instead of choosing candidates on merit should be ended if the party has to fare well at the hustings. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi led the charge with an 'enough is enough' type of exhortation. She said, "We cannot continue with the quota system."

What came out of the CWC meeting was a concern that infighting and ignoring merit in the candidate selection could upset the party applecart in the packed poll season.

Sonia warned against assuming victory in the BJP-ruled states because of anti incumbency, saying that nothing happened on its own these days and reminding workers how mutual animosity had tripped the party in the past. It almost set the tone, with party leaders from Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh andMadhya Pradesh railing against the 'quota system' and infighting. Congress is a bitterly divided camp in these states which, it is feared, could neutralisethe incumbency disadvantage of BJP.

There were enough potshots. While MPCC chief Suresh Pachauri called for unity in the state unit, he was seen as referring to recent announcements from public platforms that Union minister Kamal Nath be the CM candidate. Mahendra Karma of Chhattisgarh was seen as aiming at Ajit Jogi when he said a few leaders made statements as if they were above the party. Rajasthan PCC chief CP Joshi too made strong observations.

While their's were words of concern flagging the urgency of a united face in the poll field, they did underscore that the state satraps were yet to bury the hatchet ahead of the crucial polls. Congress is comforted this year by the advance poll preparations in contrast to the past when it left the candidate selection and the campaign strategy for last days, with Sonia Gandhi herself monitoring the implementation of Antony committee's recommendations. The manifesto committee under Pranab Mukherjee has also circulated its draft to various social groups and partymen for comments, and it is expected to be ready in time.

The party feels it can use the nuclear deal to take on the rival BJP which is set to make an assault with terror and Hindutva as its poll planks. Congress is specially enthused by the assurances that inflation would soon be heading south. FM Chidambaram said the fiscal measures had begun to show trends and results would kick in by November.

Source : Times Of India