Candidate conundrum

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is a bit upset with the Congress high command these days. He feels the Congress has 8220;betrayed8221; him by giving the party ticket to a close family member of an NCP leader in the Gujarat Assembly elections. The Congress has nominated NCP leader Sanat Mehta8217;s daughter-in-law Dr Purnima Sheetal Mehta for the Raopura constituency. Party leaders argue that it was a decision taken by the former Gujarat Finance Minister8217;s family. 8220;Pawar has forgotten that Sanat Mehta was himself a defector to the NCP. He was originally in the Congress,8221; said a senior Congress leader, adding that the party had given eight seats to the NCP, quite disproportionate to the NCP8217;s current standing in Gujarat politics. 8220;Besides, we did not have any other good candidate for that seat,8221; added another Congress leader with a grin, one must point out.