In a strategic move, the Congress party is gearing up to unveil its initial list of candidates for the impending state assembly elections. This move is set to take place just before the 20-day mark leading up to the release of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) list. The BJP had already unveiled its initial line up consisting of 21 candidates on August 17. A senior leader from the Congress party revealed to The Hitavada that the Screening Committee’s meeting is scheduled to convene at Rajiv Bhawan Raipur on September 4 and the Election committee meeting will be held on September 3. Following this, the party plans to officially announce its first candidate list by September 6, the Congress party leader informed.

 

The Political Affairs Committee of the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) held a meeting at the state Congress party’s headquarters, Rajiv Bhawan, in the state capital on Saturday. The meeting was attended by All India Congress Committee (AICC) In-charge General Secretary K C Venugopal, AICC General Secretary for Chhattisgarh Kumari Selja, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, State Congress President Deepak Baij, and other senior party leaders. During the meeting, it was decided to grant tickets exclusively to candidates with a proven track record of winning. The committee members underscored the importance of ensuring that the selected candidates have a history of success in order to enhance the party’s chances in the upcoming assembly elections. Furthermore, the attendees expressed the opinion that CM Bhupesh Baghel’s achievements under the Congress-led government should be prominently highlighted as a means to attract voters in the approaching elections. Dr Shiv Kumar Dahariya, Minister of Labour, cautioned against officials who claim to have the authority to allocate assembly tickets to candidates, emphasising the importance of vigilance in the process. AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal, addressing the gathering, conveyed the party’s commitment to approach the upcoming assembly elections with utmost seriousness and without overconfidence.

 

He articulated the party’s ambition to secure victory in over 70 assembly seats, outlining a dedicated effort towards this goal. Kumari Selja, AICC General Secretary, informed media representatives that senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to participate in the Yuva Mitan Sammelan in Raipur city on September 2. Besides, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge will participate in the Bharose Ka Sammelan in Rajnandgaon district on September 8. The candidate selection process entails a tiered approach, with applications being accepted at the Block Congress Committee (BCC) level until August 22. Subsequently, BCC meetings will be convened from August 24, where five chosen names will be forwarded to the District Congress Committee (DCC) by August 26. The DCC meeting is scheduled for August 29, during which three names will be recommended to the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) by August 31. The final decision will rest with the Pradesh Election Committee, which will provide one selected name to the Screening Committee. In an effort to promote social engineering and inclusivity, the party is placing a strong emphasis on prioritizing winning candidates and female candidates during the candidate selection process.