Dissent in Congress over Kala’s candidature from Shahabad
In a major setback to Congress leaders who had been seeking party ticket in Shahabad, the party has fielded sitting MLA Ramkaran Kala, who had joined the party after quitting the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) recently.
While supporters of Kala are jubilant, a number of Congress workers and leaders have expressed resentment with the party’s decision. Kala said: “I have been getting support from all sections of society. We will win the seat for the Congress and complete the pending development projects. The Congress will form the next government led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda and ensure equal development across the state.”
In 2019 Assembly elections, Kala contested the election on the JJP ticket and defeated BJP candidate Krishan Bedi by a comfortable margin of 37,127 votes. However, local Congress leaders are not happy with the party’s decision and said instead of trusting its own workers the party had preferred a turncoat.
Former MLA Anil Dhantori, who was eyeing party ticket, said “There is resentment among Congressmen because the party has fielded a wrong candidate. I am with the party but I will not vote for this candidate, as my ethics don’t allow me to support such a person. I will not work against the party and remain away from the field. However, if the party assigns me duty in some other constituency, I will happily work for the party there.”
Another Congress leader, Prem Hingakheri, said: “The ticket of Shahabad has been sold to Ramkaran Kala. He recently joined the party while a number of senior Congress leaders had been working for the party in the constituency with dedication for past so many years. We will not tolerate such wrong decisions and I have decided to contest the election. I will hold a meeting with my supporters on Sunday and decide the future course of action.”
Reena Valmiki, who was also eyeing the party ticket, said: “All Congress leaders and workers are disappointed because the party has ignored the criteria set for selection of candidate. He was the sitting MLA and his party was the part of the government and yet he failed to ensure development of the constituency. I am with the party but not with the candidate. It would have been better if the party workers had been given an opportunity instead of giving the ticket to an opportunist. The party should give due representation to the women and Valmiki community in tickets”.
