Jaipur, Aug 18 (IANS) Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday called for a generational shift in Congress candidate selection for the upcoming urban local body and Panchayati Raj elections, urging that more than half of the tickets be given to Gen Z and younger candidates.
Speaking to the media after a meeting at the Congress War Room, Gehlot said the political environment has changed with Gen Z’s growing participation.
“I have said that more than 50 per cent of the tickets should be given to Gen Z. The experience of senior leaders should be utilised, but the younger generation must be brought forward. Their importance cannot be denied,” he remarked.
Gehlot strongly opposed distributing tickets based on senior leaders’ recommendations, stressing that observers should have complete authority to assess candidates at the grassroots level.
“Do not award tickets based on recommendations. History shows that whenever a ticket is given on recommendation, defeat follows. Tickets should be given to genuine party workers,” he said.
He added that even his own recommendation should not be treated as a basis for awarding a ticket.
“People come to me with recommendations from Jaipur, Bharatpur and Bikaner. Even if I recommend someone, do not give them a ticket,” Gehlot said, explaining that senior leaders may not always be aware of ground‑level realities in constituencies.
Congress Rajasthan president Govind Singh Dotasara went further, announcing that 60 per cent of tickets would be given to young candidates.
“We will give 60 per cent of the tickets to the youth, not 50 per cent. This guideline will be communicated down to the grassroots level,” Dotasara said.
He added that the party would consider candidates’ political conduct after previous elections, noting that independents who supported Congress could be considered. In contrast, those who won on a Congress ticket but later supported another party would not receive preference.
The statements indicate that Congress is preparing to make youth representation, grassroots assessment, and loyalty to the party key factors in candidate selection for the upcoming local body and Panchayati Raj elections.
–IANS
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