Old is gold: Rajkot Cong goes back to experienced leaders

“We want some people with political and administrative experience (to contest the elecions) that is required to ensure better governance,” said Bavalia. “So we have selected some senior,experienced and educated leaders to contest and lead the campaign.”

He further said the party will announce the final list of candidates within two days.

The meeting also decided to allow the candidates to contest from ward of their choice.

The decision to go back to experienced leaders assumes significance as in the 2000 elections,many grassroots workers,who won elections for the first time,could not do well despite being in power.

Riding on the anti-incumbency wave,the party had won that election for the first time in 25 years.

But the Congress rule also had its share of controversies when Mayor Mansukh Chavda was accused of molestation by a party worker,Saroj Bhatt. This was followed by a telephone bill scam,involving Chavda,as his bill for a particular month was to the tune of Rs 12 lakh. In the following elections,the party’s performance was unimpressive.