'Don't want just sons of leaders': High drama after Congress meet over Bihar polls; big 'dummy candidate' claim

NEW DELHI: Congress youth leaders expressed strong resentment over the selection of candidates for Bihar Assembly elections, demanding a higher representation of youth and not just "sons of leaders." After Central Election Committee (CEC) meet chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge concluded on Tuesday, a number of workers came out dissatisfied, with one claiming that the grand old party was looking for "dummy candidates"."We want youth leadership in Bikram Assembly...We do not want just the sons of leaders, the youth should get their rights," said National Students' Union of India's Sudhir Sharma.

Demanding ticket from Supaul assembly, a party worker said, "They are looking for dummy candidates."

Another worker alleged that Congress leaders Krishna Allavaru and Rajesh Ram deceived women, making them “work hard and go door to door” during the campaign, only to deny them tickets in the end."It was said that those people who will be on the screening committee, those who will have their online application will be given tickets. But a few leaders like Krishna Allavaru and Rajesh Ram are making women work hard and go from door to door but cheating them at the end. The promise made by Rahul Gandhi, to honour the youth and women is being broken by Krishna Allavaru. We, the Congress workers, will not stand it. Bihar will not accept it.

You will see its result, we will not be silent," she said.

Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram, however, said that the party had made "strong decisions on quality faces for the Vidhan Sabha seats" and all such names had been "approved". "There is a two-point stand. Clarity on all our quality seats, as per our equation, has been acquired. After this 2-3 hour-long meeting, we can say that we have made strong decisions on quality faces for the Vidhan Sabha seats from Congress side.

All such names have been approved by the CEC," he said.

Earlier in the day, BJP unveiled its first list of 71 candidates for the polls.National Democratic Alliance (NDA) finalized its seat-sharing arrangement for the Bihar assembly elections. Under the plan, BJP and JD(U) will contest 101 seats each, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will field candidates for 29 seats, while the Rashtriya Lok Morcha and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) will contest six seats each.