Ticket drama reaches delhi

 

 

As the dust settled on Diwali and Gujrati New Year celebrations in Ahmedabad, pre-election political activity gained momentum. Both the leading parties - BJP and Congress – now face a heavy rush of ticket seekers. This situation may lead to some unexpected results well ahead of the actual elections next month.

The situation in the state unit of the BJP is boiling over. As Modi is inclined to refuse party ticket to almost 90 sitting MLAs (most of whom are dissidents), the whole issue has reached the Delhi Durbar. Modi insists he be present at the BJP Parliamentary Board`s meeting to be held in Delhi even though he is not a member of it. This has raised many eyebrows among state as well as central leaders who know Modi's wishes cannot be ignored.

The BJP General Secretary and Gujarat in-charge, Arun Jaitley, was in the state for the primary selection of candidates. He told TSI that the first round of selection was over. We have evaluated the prospects and feasibility of sitting MLAs and the next step is to send the list to central leadership.

But the situation is more complex than Jaitley would like to project. A BJP insider told TSI that almost 45 MLAs of Keshubhai Patel`s camp will not be given tickets this time. Besides, 45 more MLAs can be denied because this time Modi is trying to woo voters with fresh faces. It is also said that Modi is trying to convince the central leadership about giving almost 60 tickets to women candidates to conter Sonia Gandhi`s ‘women card’. On the other end of the political spectrum, Congress` tie-up with NCP is also on a sticky wicket. Though NCP`s state president Jayant Boski is denying any kind of rift, insiders says that Boski is insisting on the Sarsa seat, which Congress is denying. At present, the whole issue rests with Delhi where the high command of both parties are busy weighing the pros and cons of candidates.

But as nothing is permanent in politics, nothing can be said with certainty about the fate of this alliance.