The Congress Party is known for its dynasty politics and now the party’s proposal of “one family, one ticket” has at least given some hope for a change of the tradition. The Congress seems to have given a series thought after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s allegations that the dynasty thrives in the grand old party.
The Congress has brought up the idea of “one family, one ticket” for Congress leaders at the party’s Chintan Shivir in Rajasthan’s Udaipur.
WHAT IS ONE FAMILY, OBNE TICKET?
It means only one member of a family will get a ticket to contest in the election. But this has a rider that reads thus — the “second member of a family can be considered for a party ticket only if he or she has already put in at least five years work in the party’s organisational work.”
WHY A SHIFT SO SUDDENLY?
No doubt, Modi’s allegations of “dynasty” have given way for a bigger thought in the Congress. The party was always targeted for nepotism. The proposal, the Congress, looks forward, as an attempt to silence the allegations of “dynasty”.
WILL THIS APPLY TO GANDHIS?
This is also applicable to Gandhis but the present Gandhi family are spared as the rider clearly mentions a “second member of a family can be considered for a party ticket only if he or she has already put in at least five years work in the party’s organisational work.” As such, the three Gandhis (Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi) can contest the elections and hold positions in the party.
HOW FAR THIS IS ACCEPTED TO LEADERS?
This is a big question that the Congress is going to face as several of the leaders have their children and family members in the party. If tickets are denied, then it could backfire. This was quite seen in the recent Punjab assembly polls in April where many leaders shifted sides as tickets were denied.
CHINTAN SHIVIR
The three-day ‘Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir’ that began on May 13 is held in the backdrop of a string of electoral defeats and dissent in the party for the past many years. The Shivir mainly focuses on party restructuring, communal polarisation, farmer’s issues, strengthening party ahead of the upcoming elections.
