Cong dist units told to list out probables for Assembly polls

The state Congress on Monday directed its district units to send a list of probable candidates for the next Assembly elections by the end of next month.

KPCC president G Parameshwara, who held the office-bearers’ meeting, also directed party observers appointed to oversee preparations for the elections in every district, to submit a detailed report on the public opinion on sitting MLAs and defeated candidates in the 2013 Assembly elections in their respective constituencies.

The observers have to find out whether the MLAs and the defeated candidates are active in their constituency. The report will be the basis on which candidates for the 2018 elections will be finalised. The party intends to announce candidates for the next elections at least six months before the polls. Hence, the selection process has begun now, the KPCC president is learnt to have told the members. The district units have been asked to prepare a report on the implementation of the government’s flagship programmes. They can also suggest initiatives the party and the government can take to prepare for the next elections, he said.

According to sources in the Congress, many office-bearers said the party should take act against senior leaders Janardhana Poojary and Jaffer Sharief for criticising the government.

Parameshwara told them that he has already brought the issue to the high command’s notice.