Wary Congress puts Veerappa Moily, Subodhkant Sahay tickets on hold

NEW DELHI: Petroleum minister Veerappa Moily's ticket is on hold because of allegations on gas pricing leveled against him by Aam Aadmi Party, a development that seems to indicate that Congress is wary of stoking graft-related controversies in the coming elections.

Former Union minister and Ranchi MP Subodhkant Sahay may also have to wait for announcement of his candidature. Sahay had to resign as tourism minister after he faced allegations of lobbying for his brother to secure allotment of a coal block.

Sources said the possibility of these Congress leaders finally getting the nod could not be ruled out. But the very fact that they have been put on hold despite being sitting MPs shows apprehension in the party.

The candidature of former railway minister Pavan Bansal from Chandigarh has been cleared but the announcement has been deferred.

Silence on the three candidatures has triggered speculation given that they were seen as certainties in the run-up to the meeting of the central election committee.

Moily's case seems curious. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has accused him of favouring Reliance Industries on the issue of gas pricing. However, Milind Deora, son of former minister Murli Deora who is also in the line of AAP fire on gas pricing, has already been announced from his Mumbai constituency.

Meanwhile, Union minister Manish Tewari on Monday said Congress should not field tainted leaders in the coming elections, adding that corruption was not just about facing a legal case but also about perception.

"Congress should not get into legalities and instead not give tickets to those who are facing even allegations of corruption," Tewari said.

The Ludhiana MP said perception was a strong part of politics and technicalities of having or not having a case could not be the only determinant in deciding candidatures.

The demand from within Congress that leaders facing taint be kept out of elections may add to pressure on the leadership which is in the midst of finalizing candidates for Lok Sabha elections.

Tewari said the party should introspect and the tainted leaders should pot out of the contest. He hoped that the central election committee of Congress would keep all this in mind.