Selection of the right candidate is crucial for victory in an Assembly election

The Karnataka Congress has received multiple ticket applications in 36 constituencies where it has its own sitting member and this has made selection of candidates difficult for the party that is eyeing a return to power in the 2023 Assembly election.

The Congress currently holds 70 constituencies of which it has received single ticket applications by the incumbent MLAs in 34 segments. But, in the remaining 36 constituencies, the sitting Congress MLAs are feeling jittery as they face competition from local leaders who have applied for the Assembly tickets

At Bidar, former minister Rahim Khan has six other ticket aspirants of whom five are Muslims. “Sitting MLAs are worried that they might not get the ticket. The other worry is that even if they get the ticket, there will be rebellion from those who did not get it,” a source said.