Rajasthan Cong faces dissent over independent MLA’s ticket

A group of Congress workers staged a protest against the candidature of independent MLA Om Prakash Hudla on the party seat at Mahwa assembly constituency. On Monday, the party workers burnt the effigy of Hudla and raised slogans against the leadership’s decision to deny a ticket to any Congress worker and give it instead to the sitting MLA.
The protestors demanded that the central leadership intervene in the matter immediately by cancelling the ticket given to the independent MLA and considering any Congress worker for the seat.
Further, the protestors said that if the ticket of the independent MLA is not cancelled, a meeting of all ticket seekers in the party will be held on 26 October, and a strategic plan will be made on working for the elections against the same.
Hudla’s candidature was declared by Congress leader and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on 20 October at Priyanka Gandhi’s meeting held in Dausa. A few party workers had expressed dissatisfaction with the nomination of Hudla as party candidate soon after the meeting. Later, Congress announced its second list of candidates and Hudla’s name was included as the candidate from Mahwa.
On 22 October, Sunday, the Congress party released its second list of 43 candidates for the Rajasthan Assembly elections, which included names of state ministers Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Prasadi Lal Meena and Govind Ram Meghwal. The ruling party has fielded Govind Ram Meghwal from Khajuwala, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas from Civil Lines and Parsadi Lal Meena from Lolsot. Besides, Congress has fielded former Chief Secretary of Rajasthan Niranjan Arya from the Sojat constituency. He is considered a close associate of CM Ashok Gehlot.
In the 2018 assembly elections, the Congress won 99 seats while the BJP won 73 seats in the 200-member house. However, the Congress party came to power with the support of BSP MLAs and independents.
Earlier on Saturday, the party released its first list of 33 candidates for Rajasthan Assembly elections, which included Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, state party chief Govind Singh Dotasra and Speaker CP Joshi. The party chose to re-nominate sitting MLAs in 29 seats, while four others were chosen to fight constituencies where the BJP has sitting MLAs. The Congress’ first list came soon after BJP released its second list of 88 candidates, taking its total to 124 out of 200 candidates.
On 26 October the Congress Screening Committee for Rajasthan is likely to meet in Delhi to discuss the names of remaining candidates for the Assembly Polls. Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot and state PCC Chief Govind Dotasara will be attending the meeting. The polls for the 200-member assembly will be held on 25 November and the counting of votes will take place on 3 December.