All candidates hoping for a Janata Dal-Secular ticket to contest the elections in Karnataka will now have to pass an examination carried out by none other than party chief and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.
Even though the question paper for the examination has not been published as yet, sources told rediff.com that the examination would mainly involve questions pertaining to Gowda himself.
Aspirants for the JD-S ticket will have to answer questions on Gowda's political life. There would be questions like, 'When was Gowda the Prime Minister of India' or 'When was Gowda the leader of the opposition in Karnataka'. Candidates will also have to list the achievements of Gowda during his tenure as chief minister of Karantaka and prime minister.
Apart from this, candidates would have to answer questions regarding the introduction of the electronic voting machine and also about the delimitation of constituencies. They would also have to know the number of districts in Karnataka.
All the examination papers will be evaluated by Gowda himself and he has also given himself the power to award grace marks. Candidates will have to face a written test as well as a viva voce (by live voice), JD-S sources said. The examination would be for 100 marks and a candidate would need a minimum of 30 marks to pass.
Those aspiring for a party ticket will have to send in their applications in March, following which the process will commence. The exact date of the exam is yet to be announced.
The JD-S says that this pattern was introduced to tell the people of Karnataka that only money and muscle power does not earn tickets, but academics too play a vital role.
As of now, everyone in the party wanting to contest the elections will have to take the exam. However, an exemption has been given to Gowda's son and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, who has been given the responsibility of building the party.