Cong to rope in private firms for selecting candidates

The PCC had earlier invited applications from ticket-seekers; there were around 5,000 applicants in Madhya Pradesh only. The Pradesh Election Committee would screen the applications and send the list of shortlisted candidates to the AICC. The second list of potential candidates is to be provided by the party’s election observers. The third tier consists of these private surveyors who would not only assess the winnability of aspirants but would also add new names if necessary, sources said.

This has, however, caused heartburn among the local leadership as they think the new methodology of candidate selection would undermine their authority. “In the past, we have had private agencies to do surveys of the party’s prospects in different constituencies. It is for the first time that they are assessing the prospects of individual candidates. There is nothing wrong with this process, but what is the credibility of these organisations? Do we know the background of the promoters of these agencies,” a senior Congress leader from MP told The Indian Express over phone.

Another senior Congress leader involved in the exercise, however, defended the move saying that these agencies’ surveys would give a better idea about the prospects of a particular candidate. “It is a more objective method of shortlisting the best candidates. Instead of relying on leaders who try to promote their own candidates, we will have an independent view about ticket-seekers,” he said.