Congress to field 16 women candidates in CG polls

Raipur, October 02

In a bid to increase women’s participation in politics, Congress will field 16 women candidates in upcoming assembly elections in Chhattisgarh.

“We have always given priority to women leadership in the past. This time too, we are planning to give more tickets to female contestants,” confirmed union minister of state for agriculture and food processing industries and state Congress chief Charandas Mahant.

Notably, Mahila Congress national president shobha Ojha, in her recent Chhattisgarh visits, had persistently mounted pressure on Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) to give at least 30 tickets to women candidates.

Chhattisgarh has 90 assembly seats. In 2008 polls, the Congress had fielded ten women candidates out of which five managed to win. This time, the party is pinning more hope on females and hence plans to give six more tickets than the previous polls.

“We are confident that at least 12 out of 16 women candidates will win,” Mahant said.

When pointed that in some assembly constituencies, Congress workers do not want party’s sitting women MLAs to be repeated and have demanded ticket for new faces, Mahant said considering all aspects the state unit had shortlisted names of potential candidates and forwarded to screening committee.

Asked his take over party’s national vice president Rahul Gandhi’s outbursts against Centre’s ordinance seeking to protect convicted lawmakers, Mahant said he concurs with Gandhi’s statement as the country’s political environment should be free from criminals and corrupts.






BJP follows Congress’ footsteps

Following footsteps of Congress, the state BJP too has decided to increase women’s ticket quota in assembly polls. Though, the state BJP president Ramsewak Paikra says that his party has never imitated Congress.

“The BJP has always believed in giving equal opportunity to women in politics. We will surely give more tickets to females this time than the previous assembly elections,” he said.

Asked how many ticket the party was planning to give to females, Paikra said he would not be able to tell the number because final decision would be taken by BJP’s screening committee.

In 2008 Vidhan sabha polls the BJP had fielded 11 female contestants out of which six posted victory. Later, the party’s two more women candidates won assembly bypolls.