‘Won’t contest as rebel’: Cong pledge for ticket aspirants
Monday, 11/07/2016
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
CHANDIGARH: Stung by rebels in the 2012 polls, the Congress now wants ticket seekers to pledge they won’t contest against official candidates.
The application forms issued by the Congress for the 2017 Punjab elections has an attested declaration that reads: “I take a pledge that if not selected for any constituency, I will not contest on any seat against the party candidate and would fully support the official candidate.”
In the 2012 polls, 22 ticket seekers had refused to accept the Congress’ official candidates and contested as independents, damaging party’s prospects on many seats.
The last column of the application form also asks each candidate to attach details of two voters (voter number, mobile number, complete address with voter’s signatures) from each booth in the constituency they want to contest from. The move has already sparked controversy with many within party claiming it will create more contenders on every seat.
The form also wants the applicants to disclose if they had ever left the Congress and why, and when did they rejoin it.
