MNS volte-face?

After making aspiring candidates for PMC poll give eligibility exam, MNS says marks will not be disclosed and wannabe corporators must now prove they have a following among party workers to get ticket.

MNS volte-face?

Before the exam: Aspiring candidates register themselves for theu00a0
exam at the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena office in Narayan Peth last
month. File pic

With the exam over, the MNS says it will now be necessary for an aspiring candidate to have party workers supporting his or her candidature as it will help the party know the aspirant's political strength.u00a0Aspiring candidates feel they have no choice but to accept the orders of the senior party leaders.u00a0

Talking to MiD DAY, MNS leader Ajay Shinde, who is coordinating the examination process, said, "The party had already declared that the exam will not be the sole criteria and other things like having followers, the aspirants' party work and public contacts are very important qualities as they are an added advantage for any prospective candidate."u00a0

Shinde added that there are certain tricks of the trade in electoral politics which cannot be learnt just by giving exams.u00a0"The real aim behind taking this exam was to make the existing corporators knowledgeable so that they can perform well in the proceedings of the municipal corporation," Shinde said. u00a0 u00a0

According to party norms, the marks gained by aspiring candidates in the written exam and the interview will be kept confidential.u00a0"A candidate's marks in the written exam are being taken into consideration in the interview. But we are not going to disclose the marks to the candidates. The aspirants will not get to know on what basis they have been rejected," Shinde said.u00a0

He claimed that aspiring candidates had been told about these norms when the party distributed the registration forms. Many aspiring candidates are disappointed with the turn of events and are saying they should at least be told their score in the exam.u00a0

Ganesh Shinde, an aspiring candidate from Panel Number 26 (MIT area), said, "It's our right to know the result of whatever exam or interview we have given. Although my interview is still due, if I am rejected in my viva then they should tell me the reason for my rejection."u00a0

Shinde added that it was natural that the decision of the MNS chief would be final, but party leaders should show the rejected candidates their mistakes and guide them accordingly.u00a0Supriya Kale, an aspiring MNS candidate from Panel Number 28 (Vanaj), agreed with Shinde.u00a0

"Although my husband is an MNS worker, I am a fresher in politics. I have given my written exam and it was quite easy. But if I am rejected by the examiner when I give my interview, then they should show me how many marks I have gained in the written exam as well as in the interview," Kale said.u00a0Two rounds of interviews have already been held in the city by the MNS and two more rounds are to be held today and on Friday.u00a0

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