The Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) convened its first meeting on Thursday to finalize candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. With 60 candidates across 10 states on the agenda, the meeting chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge saw key decisions regarding prominent leaders.
In a significant move, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was cleared to contest from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala. However, sources revealed that the final decision rests with Gandhi himself. Meanwhile, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has been nominated to contest from the Rajnandgaon constituency, and former minister Tamardwaj Sahu will represent the party in Mahasamund. Jyotsna Mahant has been selected as the candidate for the Korba seat in Chhattisgarh.
While the official announcement of candidates is expected in the coming days, the CEC grappled with decisions regarding several key constituencies. In Delhi, discussions centered around candidates for Chandni Chowk, Northwest, and Northeast seats, with multiple names under consideration.
Notably, the CEC cleared names for 10 candidates in Karnataka, signaling the party's preparedness across various states. However, discussions on Uttar Pradesh candidates were deferred, leaving uncertainty around Rahul Gandhi's potential candidacy from Amethi.
In Chandni Chowk, potential candidates include J P Agarwal, former MP Sandeep Dikshit, and Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba. Similarly, names like DPCC president Arvinder Singh Lovely and his predecessor Anil Chaudhary were discussed for the Northeast Delhi constituency.
Amidst these deliberations, Congress leaders from Kerala hinted at surprises in the list of candidates for the state. While most sitting MPs, including Shashi Tharoor, are expected to be fielded again, the final roster is yet to be officially announced. Furthermore, clarity is awaited regarding the candidate selection for the Alappuzha constituency in Kerala.
As the electoral process unfolds, the Congress Central Election Committee remains focused on strategizing and finalizing candidates to contest the crucial Lok Sabha elections.