ENS

Bangalore, Feb 26: Planning to contest Assembly polls on a Janata Dal (Secular) ticket? Then get ready to face an exam. For, the ‘farmers’ party has decided to give tickets to only those who pass the oral exam with at least 30 per cent marks.

A committee of senior party leaders would test aspirants who wish to contest the polls on a JD(S) symbol. State party president Merajuddin Patel said the decision was part of an initiative to disprove the myth that only those with money and muscle power are given tickets.

Candidates will be asked questions on their family, political history, capacity to organise and mobilise people and party, experience in social service et al. They will all, however, have to go through a screening test before being called for an interview. Candidates who wish to be in the poll fray should submit a copy of their personal profile (resume) to senior party leader and former minister D Manjunath.

Once Manjunath is convinced that a particular candidate has the qualities to contest the polls, he or she would be called to attend a viva-voce before a panel of senior party leaders.

“If a candidate scores 30 marks, then he/she would be considered for a ticket,” Patel said. After this, the “wise men” on the panel will take a list of qualified candidates to party national president H D Deve Gowda, who will have a final say, including vetoing certain names.

Meanwhile, the JD(S) has convened an executive committee meeting to discuss the fallout of the implementation of delimitation committee report.

A booklet on new delimited constituencies will be released by Gowda. Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy will also attend the meeting.