Don’t want to leave far behind in announcing its candidates for 2017 polls, Punjab Congress on Sunday shortlisted 600 names out of total 1600 ticket aspirants for 117 assembly seats.
The party, on Sunday, rejected 1000 names straightaway on “technical grounds”. The party had received 1600 applications from those aspiring for party tickets for the forthcoming assembly elections in the state, scheduled to be held in January-February next year.
“Total 600 names have been shortlisted and the remaining 1000 applications had been rejected on technical grounds, related to failure to meet the stringent eligibility conditions laid down by the party. All applications were subjected to a thorough check and only 600 were found to be in order after close scrutiny,” said Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh.
He said that in most of these cases, the applications were found to be incomplete, while in some, the applicants failed to provide contact details, as required, of two persons from the booths in their respective constituencies. The latter was aimed at gauging the strength and reach of the prospective candidates at the grassroots.
For the first time, the party has introduced a series of stringent conditions that all prospective candidates need to meet in order to be considered for final selection, said Capt Amarinder, asserting that credibility and winnability would be the only criteria for selection.
“We are taking all steps to ensure that no candidate is selected without a detailed background check. Corruption and dishonesty have no place in the Congress culture and we will not allow anyone to mar the party’s image,” he said.
FOUR-MEMBER TEAM TO MONITOR NEW JOINERS
Expecting that more and more leaders would come to the party fold, Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh has set up a four-member committee to screen those wanting to join the party in the run-up to the election.
The panel, headed by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) vice-president and MlA laal Singh, include MlA Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, former MP Satnam Singh Kainth, and former legislator Rana Kanwar Pal Singh. All leaders are of the rank of PPCC vice-president.
“Given the huge rush of people wanting to join the Congress, including many from the Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the committee will undertake a meticulous screening of the background and profile of every applicant for membership,” said Capt Amarinder.