The Hindu : New Delhi News : Congress, BJP coy about declaring candidates

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Sunday, Aug 17, 2008
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New Delhi

Congress, BJP coy about declaring candidates

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

‘Announcing names early for Delhi polls is fraught with danger’

Both the leading political parties have expedited their process of selecting candidates
‘There are a few positives in announcing the candidature early’

NEW DELHI: By announcing candidates from almost all the segments for the Delhi Assembly elections a couple of months ago, the Bahujan Samaj Party had spurred both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party into getting into the poll mode early, but leaders of both the parties feel that the final announcement of the candidates for them would only be feasible a few days before the filing of nominations begins.

As the BSP had finalised 66 candidates for the polls, both the leading political parties also expedited their process of selecting candidates. The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee has already completed the process of appointing its 12 observers for as many districts who had then held consultations with the area party leaders and submitted a list of three to five prospective candidates for each of the Assembly segments to the party on August 7.

Thereafter, the All-India Congress Committee had also appointed four observers who on August 13 began the process of holding discussions with area representatives and leaders for preparing their own list of candidates that would also be submitted before the Screening Committee along with the list prepared by DPCC observers. The AICC has also moved ahead and announced the manifesto, publicity, media and publication committees set up for the polls.

On the other hand, the BJP had reorganised the Delhi unit on the lines of the new Assembly segments following delimitation. The party has also taken the reports from all its 16 zilas or district units and 272 mandal or block units on their choice of candidates. These would now be sent to the Central Election Committee for a final decision.

But senior party leaders in both the parties insist that announcing the names early is fraught with danger.

“That leaves a lot of scope for intra-party fighting as those denied tickets can work against the interest of the candidates,” said a senior Congress leader, adding that what the BSP had done was because it had very little to lose in Delhi.

On the other hand, a senior Delhi BJP leader said there are also a few positives in announcing the candidature early or at least informing the candidate in advance that he or she has been chosen. “It enables them to prepare them for the polls and also allows the party to manage the dissidents well. ”

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