Congress yet to announce candidates for Gujarat election as party walks tightrope over caste equations, factionalism

Even though only two days are left to file nominations for the first phase of Gujarat polls, the Congress is yet to announce its candidates as the party is trying to strike the delicate caste balance while doing the quota tight rope and grappling internal factionalism. The list is likely to be announced on Sunday night. Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Bharatsinh Solanki, speaking to reporters on Sunday, said that there is now agreement between the party and the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and an understanding has been reached, ANI reported. Solanki also said that neither PAAS, Jignesh Mevani nor Alpesh Thakor has asked for a ticket. The Hardik Patel-led PAAS, which is playing hardball with the grand old party given its hold on the numerically strong community, is reported to have demanded around 20 seats from the Congress quota. The Alpesh Thakor-led OBC group is said to have demanded 12 seats, which has delayed the Congress’ list. Thakor had joined the Congress recently. Moreover, groupism and dissension in the state Congress unit is also said to be a reason behind the delay in finalising candidates. On the other hand, the ruling BJP has announced 106 candidates out of a total of 182 seats, by releasing two lists so far. [caption id=“attachment_4217901” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] While polling for 89 constituencies will be held on 9 December, the remaining 93 seats will go to polls on 14 December. The last date for filing nominations for the first phase is 21 November. A Congress leader, who is in the know of the ongoing negotiations, said the issue of allocation of seats would be resolved soon. “The delay in declaring the list of candidates is due to the ongoing negotiations between PAAS and the Congress party on PAAS’ demand for seats. The PAAS has demanded around 20 seats while the OBC group led by Alpesh Thakore has staked claim to around 12 to 15 seats,” party sources said. Hardik Patel, who has emerged as the protagonist of caste consolidation, had set the Congress’ commitment to a quota for Patidars under OBC category as the pre-condition to extend his community’s support to the party. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal had held a meeting with PAAS representatives and handed three options to the community on the quota issue. Hardik recently said that if the Congress finds PAAS leaders fit enough to contest polls, then they can fight elections. One of the PAAS conveners Lalit Vasoya on Sunday declared that Congress is offering him a ticket from Dhroaji seat and he will fill up his nomination form on Monday. A delegation of PAAS leaders had gone to Delhi two days ago and demanded 30 seats from the Congress which held its Central Election Committee meeting under Sonia Gandhi. The Congress, however, had rejected the demand. According to sources in Congress, the PAAS has reduced the number of seats it wanted to contest. “PAAS has reduced the number of seats it wanted to contest than their previous demand. Negotiations are on between the Congress and PAAS. We hope the issue will be resolved soon,” sources said. PAAS leader Dinesh Bambhaniya said the Congress has invited them for a meeting this evening wherein the quota issue would be discussed with state Congress leaders. Sources said seat-sharing would be finalised at the meeting. The other reason for the delay in declaring the list is infighting and groupism in the Congress party. “There is also some internal bickering between various groups in the party for tickets, which is another factor for delay in declaration of list,” sources said. In run-up to the 2012 assembly elections in Gujarat, the Congress had not officially issued the list of candidates and had directed the party candidates to file their nominations on telephone. With inputs from PTI