Rahul Gandhi had promised that only hard-working Congress workers would be given a ticket. (Photo: Twitter/INCIndia)

Whether it was his public meeting in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh, one of Congress president Rahul Gandhi's significant announcements till a few days ago had been regarding "parachute leaders". However, he seems to have forgotten or gone back on his promise.

In his rallies in the three poll-bound states, Rahul Gandhi had been assuring that he will not allow leaders from other parties to contest on Congress ticket.

Rahul Gandhi had said, "Leaders from other parties are welcome in the Congress. But they will not be given Congress tickets to contest the election in the forthcoming assembly election. Such leaders will have to work for the party for five to six years before they are considered for tickets."

However, his announcement was belied when the first list of candidates for Rajasthan assembly election was released late last (November 15) night.

Of the 152 candidates named by the Congress for the 200-seat Rajasthan assembly, at least six of them have done parachute-landing in the party. Moreover, forget about working for Congress for five to six years, some of them have not worked for five days or even five hours before joining the party and getting a ticket.

For instance, Kanhaiya Lal Jhanwar had joined the Congress about five hours before the party's list was released. He has been fielded from Bikaner East.

had joined the Congress about five hours before the party's list was released. He has been fielded from Bikaner East. BJP MP from Dausa, Harish Meena , had quit the party a day ago. He has been fielded from Deoli-Uniara on Congress ticket.

, had quit the party a day ago. He has been fielded from Deoli-Uniara on Congress ticket. Similarly, BJP MLA from Nagaur, Habib- ir -Rehman had also quit the BJP a day ago. But the Congress gave a ticket to him from Nagaur itself.

had also quit the BJP a day ago. But the Congress gave a ticket to him from Nagaur itself. In another case mocking Rahul Gandhi's announcement, IPS officer Sawai Singh Godara took VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme) a day ago to be fielded by the Congress from Khinwsar.

took VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme) a day ago to be fielded by the Congress from Khinwsar. Independent MLA Raj Kumar Sharma has been fielded from his current seat of Nawalgarh.

has been fielded from his current seat of Nawalgarh. Sona Devi Bawri had won the 2013 assembly election on Zamindar Party ticket. The Congress has given her a ticket from Raisingh Nagar.

Rahul Gandhi had also promised that only hard-working Congress workers would be given a ticket.

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However, in yesterday's ticket distribution, the Congress has fielded relatives of about 15 party leaders.

Tickets to parachute-landers and relatives of senior Congress leaders have led to rebellion in the party. Incidents of protest have been reported from some parts of the state.

More than the damage to the Congress due to the protests, it is the credibility of Rahul Gandhi which was at stake and which may have got eroded.

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