Party time for aspiring netas

BANGALORE: The Congress is all set to collect at least Rs 45 lakh in application fees from members who want to contest elections. The Congress started distributing applications for ticket aspirants on Monday. Each aspirant has been asked to attach a demand draft for Rs 10,000. For SC/ST and women candidates, the fee is Rs 5,000. Rush hour There was a rush for forms on the first day at the party’s Bangalore district office. “There is a demand for extension of the last date, and we may agree,” said a party leader. About 20 applications are expected from each of Karnataka’s 224 constituencies. This fee is not refundable, and tickets are not reserved for applicants. An influential leader may get one even without submitting an application. “I don’t mind if the ticket goes to somebody else,” said Keshavamurthy, a ticket aspirant from Mahadevapura in Bangalore. “I am ready to pay the fee, as it gives me a sense of participation.” The JD(S) has already completed the application process. March 31 was the last date for submissions, and the party has received 7,000 applications. The fee was Rs 5,000 for general candidates, for SC/ST and women candidates (Rs 2,500). Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy interviewed aspirants at a posh resort. Some constituencies have received over 20 applications, a source said. Many young leaders have submitted applications this time,” said Milind Dharmasena, a likely candidate from the SC reserved constituency of C V Ramanagar in Bangalore. “I am enthused by this development.” Interestingly, the BJP is not charging any fee. “We are only considering merit. Calling for applications and collecting fees looks bureaucratic,” said Girish Mattennavar, president, BJP Yuva Morcha.