‘One family, one ticket’ rule won’t impact Karnataka Congress

BENGALURU: The decision of the All India Congress Committee to enforce its ‘one family, one ticket’ rule is unlikely to affect political futures of the kin of frontline Congress functionaries in the state.
This is because of the rider that allows kin functionaries to run for office on a party ticket if they have worked for the party for at least five years.
This spares a majority of frontline leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, Ramalinga Reddy and MB Patil the blushes since their kin are already members of the state legislature or Parliament. “There is no question of them being affected by the rule,” said a Congress functionary.
Although the rule is not new, the AICC, during its three-day brainstorming session in Udaipur, Rajasthan last week, decided to strictly enforce it. This is largely seen as a bid to curb criticism of it being a party that encourages dynasty politics.
The rule will kick in for upcoming assembly and Parliament elections and will affect kin of functionaries who are planning their debut into electoral politics in next year’s assembly elections.
More than a dozen relatives of legislators have already expressed interest in running for office on Congress tickets. Prominent among them are Satish Jarkhiholi’s son Rahul, Lakshmi Hebbalkar’s son Mrunal, and HC Mahadevappa’s son Sunil Bose. “For them, the new rule will become an obstacle,” a Congress legislator said.
A state Congress spokesperson, however, said that while the intention behind the rule is “good”, is “practi- cally difficult” to apply evenly across the party.
“When choosing a candidate, the ability to win is the priority,” said the spokesperson. “If daughter or son of a leader is a sure-shot winner, then no party can afford to deny her/him a ticket. ”
PR Ramesh, MLA and KPCC vice president, said it is too early to say how the rule will come into play or how it will be implemented.
Cong questions contractors’ silence
Siddaramaiah, opposition leader in the legislative assembly, on Wednesday claimed there is “a tacit understanding” between chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and Karnataka Civil Contractors’ Association and questioned the association’s silence on their allegations of 40% commission to secure projects.
“They threatened to stage protests and abandon all works but now they are silent,” he said. “This leads to suspicion that the government and the association have reached an understanding.” Later, at a public function, Siddaramaiah said he will waive farm loans again if he becomes the chief minister, suggesting he is still aspiring for the post.