New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi has set the broad parameters for selecting candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
As news that would be relief to sitting Congress MLAs across the country Rahul has said they need not contest the Lok Sabha polls. Sitting MLAs and Rajya Sabha MPs will be considered in rare cases only.
Youth and women have to be given prominence. Newcomers should get their chance and those who have lost twice or more before in polls will not be considered, he told a meeting of AICC general secretaries here on Thursday.
Congress leaders who hope to field a few members from their family for the election will have to rethink as the party chief has ordered not many kin of leaders should be given the party ticket to enter the fray.
Screening committees have to make a list by February 20 and contestants declared by the end of the month. A central panel will monitor campaigns throughout the country.
Requests to employ general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for national campaigns were not finalised at the meeting. It also decided to make sure that the minimum wage promise by the party reached every voter. Issue of citizenship bill will be made a weapon against the BJP in the northeast.
All general secretaries, including Priyanka, reviewed the political climate in every state. She thanked Rahul Gandhi for her induction in to the party and promised to create a strong base in Uttar Pradesh. Oommen Chandy, KC Venugopal and PC Chacko attended the meeting.
Priyanka-Rahul road show in UP
Priyanka will lead her first road show - from Lucknow airport to the party office - after taking up the responsibility for eastern UP on February 11. She will be present in the region, along with Rahul and general secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia, until the 14th.