Rajasthan Elections: Congress to Give 60 Percent Tickets to Youth Candidates

Jaipur, August 18. The Congress party has Notably intensified its strategic preparations for the upcoming local body and panchayat elections in Rajasthan. State Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra has announced a major shift in the party's approach, emphasizing that youth will be given top priority in ticket distribution. According to Dotasra, the party's primary focus will be on allocating approximately 60 percent of the tickets to young faces, aiming to bring fresh energy into the local governance structure.

Focus on Winnability and Ground Reality

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has also weighed in on the ticket distribution process, sending a clear message to the party leadership and workers. Gehlot stressed that tickets shouldn't be distributed based on the recommendations of senior leaders. Instead, the primary criteria for selection should be the candidate's connection with the local population and their actual capacity to win the election. Gehlot went as far as to say that even if he personally recommends a candidate, that recommendation alone shouldn't be the basis for granting a ticket. He advocated for giving observers the full freedom to make decisions based on local circumstances and ground realities.

Gehlot further supported the idea of empowering the next generation, suggesting that more than 50 percent of the tickets should go to youth. He noted that while the experience of senior leaders is invaluable, it must be balanced with the promotion of the new generation, while he expressed confidence that if candidates are selected based on ground reality, Congress will perform exceptionally well in these elections. He called for unity among party leaders and workers as they prepare to enter the electoral battlefield.

Organizational Meetings and Feedback

To formalize these strategies, Dotasra announced that a major Congress meeting will be held within the next 2 to 3 days. This meeting will see the participation of MLAs, MLA candidates, organizational officials, and senior leaders, while this gathering will mark the official launch of the party's campaign for the local body and panchayat elections. The party aims to select candidates who aren't only capable of winning but are also committed to remaining active within the organization for a long period. Feedback is currently being gathered from district leaders, with discussions already completed with representatives from 27 to 28 districts.

Criticism of the BJP Government

During his address, Dotasra launched a sharp attack on the current BJP government, alleging that in its tenure of two and a half years, it has not even completed 5 percent of the work done by the previous Congress government. He accused the administration of corruption and irregularities in the transfer process. Specifically, regarding the education department, he claimed that approximately 400 transfers have already been cancelled due to these issues. However, it's important to note that these are allegations made by the Congress party.

The PCC Chief also targeted the government over delays in the panchayat election process and the postponement of the lottery system. He warned that these delays are putting approximately 1900 crore rupees of TFC and SFC funds at risk of lapsing. Also, he raised concerns about irregularities in the reservation process for SC, ST, and OBC categories, stating that Congress wouldn't hesitate to approach the court if necessary. He emphasized that Congress wouldn't back down from the elections and would continue to raise issues related to the government's performance among the public.

Political Controversies and Media Restrictions

" Meanwhile, Ashok Gehlot criticized the BJP and RSS over the Vande Mataram controversy, alleging that the issue is being used for political gains. He also responded to comments made by the BJP regarding Sonia Gandhi, while Also, Gehlot raised concerns about a government order restricting media entry and coverage in schools, demanding its immediate withdrawal. He argued that the government should focus on improving the education system and providing better facilities to students rather than trying to control media coverage, which he deemed inappropriate for transparency.