Cong poll panel’s final draft likely today

Monday, 02/01/2012

Punjab-based ticket aspirants of the Congress have thronged the National Capital riding on hopes and prayers. Clutching in their hands copies of their biodata, a long list of allegations against rivals and details of the recent delimitation of constituencies, these men and women are putting in all efforts to project themselves as the best possible choice to tackle the ruling Akali-BJP combine.

It will be not before January 2 that the party high command will meet to decide on candidates and the first list is expected only after that. Even while factors like winning potential of a candidate are being projected as important, the inside story is that the Congress is seeking opinions of all senior leaders like Capt Amarinder Singh, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Jagmeet Brar, Shamsher Singh Dullo and Mohinder Kaypee among others to arrive at a choice.

For the aspirants, being a loyalist of one of these camps is the first effort. At least, a bigwig of the state unit or a central leader has to back a candidate. CP Joshi, a Union minister from Rajasthan who is very close to Rahul Gandhi, is heading the screening committee and is open to ideas. “At present, we are meeting people to seek their responses. The screening committee will formally meet after that,” Joshi told The Tribune last night.

Sources said the screening committee was expected to submit a final draft to the central election committee of the party tomorrow. Another major effort that the aspirants are making is to meet some members of the central leadership. In huge demand are ministers like Ambika Soni, Preneet Kaur and Ashwani Kumar.

Young MPs like Manish Tewari, Ravneet Bittu and Vijay Inder Singla are among others who are being approached by aspirants to put in a word, possibly to the elusive Rahul Gandhi.

Among the series of efforts is getting a room to stay at the Punjab Bhawan on the Copernicus Marg — located just 2 km away from the Congress headquarters — or a room in the Himachal Bhawan and Haryana Bhawan nearby. The well-heeled among the aspirants have booked hotel rooms while some even have their own flats in Gurgaon or Noida.

Waiting for the Congress high command and central leaders of the party is a tiresome job and patience is the key. At the Punjab Bhawan, the underlying tension in the rat-race is masked by the busy carnival-type atmosphere.

Throughout the day, the lawns are packed with ticket seekers and supporters. Some of them are staying here while others use it as a rendezvous point. Intense lobbying is on. Some of the seats have as many two dozen applicants.