Bhubaneswar: The Congress party has decided to release its first list of 70 candidates for ensuing Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State by March 1, party sources said.
This decision was taken at the meeting of Pradesh Election Committee (PEC) of Congress held here at party headquarters.
The Odisha Pradesh Election Committee (PEC) meeting was held at Congress Bhawan to discuss about the aspirants, who have applied through Pragaman app. The 23-member committee has scrutinized the applicants who are eager to fight the election as congress nominees in the ensuing election.
“The procedure for distribution of tickets will begin with elaborate discussion on the applications received for both Lok Sabha and Assembly seats. The list prepared will then be taken to the Screening Committee in Delhi. The final decision will be taken by the All India Congress Committee,” OPCC President Sarat Pattanayak told media persons.
The PEC has discussed the names and will submit them to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) for approval. Notably, the party received over 3,300 online applications, including more than 2,500 aspirants for 147 assembly seats and 670 seekers for 21 Lok Sabha tickets.
When the party was preparing for the elections, former Minister Nabin Chandra Narayan Das and former Dhenkanal District President Saroj Patnaik resigned from the party on Monday. Expressing anger at the State Congress President, the duo resigned from the party.
Meanwhile, holding a press conference, state Congress women wing President Minakshi Bahinipati said the Mahila Congress will gherao Naveen Niwas, the residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on February 21.
“BJD government under Naveen Patnaik’s rule is using the women of the state for their vote bank. The BJD government is trying to allure the women of the state through various schemes only to get their votes. But the core issues of the women are never resolved even after 24 years of rule,” Shrimati Bahinipati alleged.
