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

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Jaitley not keen on being BJP candidate for Delhi CM

BANGALORE: As BJP gears for a string assembly elections, attention has been focused on the party's chief ministerial choice for Delhi with the name of senior leader Arun Jaitley doing the rounds and being seen by some quarters as an effective nominee to take on the Congress in the Capital.

Some BJP leaders have broached the subject with Jaitley who remains uninterested in the prospect, pointing out that he has never been involved in local politics and has no interest in relinquishing his key role in the party's central set-up. The lawyer is understood to have said that he feels more suited for the role as BJP strategist, while declining the overtures.

Jaitley's profile might tempt some in BJP to seek his projection as this would also overcome the factional tensions in the state unit between leaders like Harsh Vardhan, Vijay Goel and V K Malhotra. But it is also being pointed out that placing Jaitley in the poll fray is no guarantee that factionalism will end. In 1998, BJP's decision to make Sushma Swaraj CM just ahead of elections only resulted in sabotage by state leaders.

In any case, Jaitley's role as BJP's key campaign strategist would be important to the party ahead of next year's general elections which are in all likelihood expected to be hard fought. It has been suggested that Jaitley could lead the party in Delhi and then move to a Lok Sabha seat next year. So far, the former law minister does not seem interested. This argument is also somewhat fraught as such talk may damage the BJP and allow Congress to argue that there is no use voting for a leader who will not lead the city government. The projection could then backfire.

Senior BJP leaders like L K Advani and party chief Rajnath Singh feel that the proposal is worth considering. However, the issue for Advani is also whether Jaitley can be spared of his considerable central duties in the crucial run-up to next year's general elections in a situation when the Leader of Opposition is vying for the Prime Minister's job. Jaitley is an important interlocutor with BJP units of Madhya Pradesh, J&K, Bihar, UP and Karnataka and even Rajasthan.

A Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, Jaitley is not averse to the idea of contesting a Lok Sabha seat from either Gujarat, Punjab or even Delhi, but he is clear in the mind about not limiting himself to being a state leader from the Capital. Jaitley has held several portfolios as Union minister in the NDA regime and been a core players in the party's organization.


Source : Times Of India

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Former TDP MP Ramachandraiah joins Chiranjeevi's party

HYDERABAD: The political migration towards "Praja Rajyam", floated by Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi, continued today with another former TDP MP C Ramachandraiah joining the party and vowing to work for its success.
Ramachandraiah, a former Rajya Sabha member and prominent backward class leader from Kadapa district, joined the new party in the presence of the actor.
Ramachandraiah, who was with TDP since its inception in 1982 and held several key positions in the regional party, had resigned from Rajya Sabha recently following differences with the party leadership.
Speaking to reporters at Praja Rajyam Party office here, he said he was drawn towards Chiranjeevi's ideals of social justice, equality and corruption-free governance.
"I am confident that under Chiranjeevi's leadership, we will usher in the much-needed change in the society," he said.
Ramachandraiah, once considered a close confidant of TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu, said the regional party had deviated from the original ideals and objectives of the founder and matinee idol late N T Rama Rao.
"In Chiranjeevi, I see the same kind of commitment and dedication that NTR was endowed with," he said.
Ramachandraiah's move is the latest in the series of desertions from the main opposition TDP.

Source : Times Of India

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