Even Prez Patil was denied ticket once, says Congress

Plagued by dissidence, Congress is going all out to woo back rebels who failed to make it to the candidates' list, with Digvijay Singh citing the example of President Pratibha Patil, who was ‘denied a ticket’ in 1998 but later ‘rewarded’ with the nomination for the top post.

Plagued by dissidence, Congress is going all out to woo back rebels who failed to make it to the candidates’ list, with AICC leader Digvijay Singh citing the example of President Pratibha Patil, who was ‘denied a ticket’ in 1998 but later ‘rewarded’ with the nomination for the top post.

Addressing a poll meeting at Panchsheel Nagar on Friday night, Singh, in an apparent bid to placate former MLA P C Sharma who was denied the party ticket from Bhopal South-West seat said, “Congress had denied the party ticket in 1998 even to President Pratibha Patil.

“But, less than a decade later she was rewarded with the nomination for the post of country’s President because of her consistent loyalty to the party.”

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He urged Sharma, who was considered a strong contender for the seat, not to feel let down on being denied the ticket and asked him to work for the party to ensure the defeat of the communal forces.

To woo back candidates who have filed their nominations as Independents on being denied the party ticket, Union Commerce and Industries Minister Kamal Nath recently issued an appeal asking them to rally behind the party so that it can form a government in Madhya Pradesh.

Following an appeal, a known supporter of Kamal Nath, Asif Zaki, withdrew his nomination from one of the seats in Bhopal.

However, the Congress has expelled former ministers Mukesh Nayak and Balendu Shukla and 33 others from the party for six years ahead of the polls.

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