Angry CPCC chief leaves meeting

The Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) Search Committee for the identification of party candidates witnessed a war of words during the finalisation of party tickets late on Tuesday night. The meeting will now be held on October 26.

The Congress has to declare its third list of candidates for the second phase of polling, for which the notification will be issued on October 26.

Party insiders said that the war of words began after it came to be known that a few candidates close to CPCC president Bhupesh Baghel, recommended by him for party tickets, will be dropped. He later left the meeting in anger.

On Tuesday night, along with the Congress screening committee, the party search committee members were also present for the finalisation of the list.

According to sources, after a sting operation related to the CPCC chief, the screening committee had decided to bring in candidates other than those suggested by the CPCC president.

This is apparently what had angered him.

However, there is a chance that candidates selected without Baghel's permission will have to suffer as there is a chance that his supporters may not work in their favour. This would indirectly help the BJP in the election.