The Congress in Rajasthan is all geared up for the upcoming assembly election and is cashing in on women power this time. Congress national President has maintained that he wants to see more women representatives in the upcoming state elections in 2018 and center elections in 2019. Earlier this month, Rahul Gandhi while addressing a public gathering in Sagwara as a part of his ‘Sankalp’ rally in Rajasthan had said, “I want to see more women candidates in elections, or else I will not approve the list. Nothing can happen in India without them; they run the country.”
He had also said that no ticket will be given to ‘parachute’ candidates. Those who want to get a ticket from the party have to first work for the party and show the credentials. As per the instructions the All India Mahila Congress has asked the state unit president to submit the list of women candidates who are likely to win the elections. The state women’s congress has submitted names of 23 candidates so far.
The idea is to introduce women and young candidates on a seat where the party has lost twice or thrice consecutively. The congress is aiming at developing new leadership and this move is a step towards achieving the goal. The party is set to field 50 new faces in the constituencies where the representatives have not visited their constituencies ad there is no visible work. These candidates will be replaced by the ones who are young comparatively, have done a considerable amount of work and comply with the party’s agendas.
A senior leader congress involved in finalizing the candidates was quoted by HT as saying, “The party this time is considering fielding women and youth candidates in seats that we have lost twice or thrice in a row”. He further added, “The new faces would be from among women and youth who are prominent, energetic, have a history of social work and have worked on party lines. The party’s focus this time will be on giving opportunities to communities or castes which were traditionally our vote bank but were left out and deprived of representation.”
Congress had lost about 65 seats in assembly polls held in the year 2008 and 2013. In 2003 elections party had lost 30 seats thrice in a row. Some of these seats are of Ajmer, Nagaur, Jhalrapatan, Jaisalmer etc….
The senior leader said the screening committee chaired by Selja Kumari after discussing 200 seats will submit a tentative candidates’ list to Congress president Rahul Gandhi by September-end and the final one by October 15.