Quota system all the way as Cong list of 117 is out

At least 35 candidates known to be “loyal” to Kamal Nath were allotted tickets while around 20 recommended by former chief minister Digvijay Singh figured in the list, said sources. Kamal Nath had a major say in the selection of candidates in Mahakaushal region, his stronghold. Digvijay’s influence was evident from the list of candidates for Gwalior and Malwa regions.

At a rally in Chhindwara some time back, Digvijay had supported a proposal, floated by former PCC chief Subhash Yadav, that the Union Commerce Minister should lead the party in the election. With many chief ministerial aspirants, notably PCC chief Suresh Pachauri, lodging protest with the party High Command against this move, the Congress had to officially clarify that it would not project any CM candidate. But, given Kamal Nath’s apparent influence in ticket distribution exercise, he seems to be gaining ground. Singh has already ruled himself out as a contender for the CM’s post and is not even contesting the Assembly election.

Scindia’s stamp in Gwalior region was also evident from today’s list, although he also had a say in deciding the candidates in other regions, said sources. There were at least 18 Scindia nominees in today’s list, said sources. He has, of late, been holding successful public rallies across the state to dispel the perception in a section of party leadership about his influence being confined to one region.

M Veerappa Moily, who headed the Screening Committee on Madhya Pradesh had on Wednesday evening, called a meeting of senior leaders from the state to reconcile their differences over candidates. Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress president, was also present at the meeting. Although Arjun Singh was not in the meeting, the Screening Committee had called on the Human Resource Development Minister twice to seek his views about different candidates. About a dozen candidates, recommended by Arjun, were accommodated in today’s list, said sources. Pachauri also managed to get tickets for at least 17 of his nominees, said sources.

Among those who figured in the list included Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Jamuna Devi from Kukshi Assembly constituency, HRD Minister Arjun Singh’s son and state campaign committee chairman Ajay Singh from Churhat and Subhash Yadav from Kasrawad.