Would Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) working president Chiranjib Biswal be denied a party ticket to contest the ensuing Assembly elections as his brother Ranjib Biswal is a member of the Rajya SabhaIJ
Can former PCC president Jayadev Jena arrange a party ticket for his son Sangram Jena in the coming elections besides being desirous of contesting poll himselfIJ
The issue is being debated in the Congress circles after AICC Odisha in-charge Jitendra Singh on Tuesday announced that the party would adopt a “One family, one ticket” formula in the 2019 elections.
Singh said that only those who are established in politics would get a chance to contest elections and no recommendations would be entertained during ticket distribution exercise.
“The AICC had announced a screening committee a year back to identify candidates to contest elections on party tickets.
Within a next few days, candidates will be selected for tickets, which will be distributed only on merit and not recommendations,” Singh said.
He also made it clear that the people whose names are recommended through lobbying would be denied party tickets.
“Merit and not recommendation will be yardstick for selection of candidates,” Singh said.
PCC president Niranjan Patnaik said the party would follow the instructions given by the All India Congress Committee.
AICC president Rahul Gandhi last week approved a 31-member Coordination Committee of the PCC.
While Singh has been appointed chairman of the committee, Jagannath Patnaik has been named its convener.
PCC chief Patnaik had earlier announced that the party would announce names of at least 50 candidates by August-end.
This would be done to allow adequate time to them to strengthen their bases in their constituencies, he said.