Bickering over Cong tickets in Rajasthan

JAIPUR, Dec 30: Resolving the tussle for tickets in the Jat belt of Rajasthan is going to be vital for the Congress if it is to improve its tally in the Lok Sabha elections. Whether it manages to do this without creating acrimony remains to be seen. The exercise of deciding tickets, which in recent times has often led to the undoing of the Congress in elections, has sparked off bickering among its leaders once again.

This time though it is on a low key, as Congressmen here perhaps realise that adding to the troubles of the party could be suicidal.

Former Union Minister Balram Jakhar has made it clear that he is not interested in any constituency other than Sikar, which he had left for Dr Hari Singh last time because he was facing hawala charges. A majority of the workers also favoured Jakhar, according to a Jat MLA.

The candidate for the Nagaur seat, said Congress leaders, was likely to be Richhpal Mirdha, nephew of the late Nathu Ram Mirdha, in place of Ram Niwas Mirdha, also an uncle of Richhpal’s, who was fielded by the Congress in the by-elections following Nathu Ram’s death.