Cong to declare poll candidates by mid-Sept

Senior Congress leader and general secretary in-charge of Chattisgarh Panna Lal Punia on Monday said that his party will announce candidates for upcoming Assembly election in the state by mid-September.

Interacting with reporters here, the Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh said that the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CGPCC) has been directed to submit the list of probable contenders for the 90 constituencies by August end.

On a query, Punia said that till now, the party has not taken any decision regarding the allotment of party tickets to sitting mayors. “Maybe in future, a decision might be taken,” he said.

In all the previous elections in the state, the party announced the list of contenders after the election schedule was announced and the candidates could not get enough time for the election campaign.

The probable candidates have been submitting the application forms with their respective Block Congress Office. The last date for submission of form is Tuesday. Thereafter, the respective District Congress Committee will scrutinise the applications and will forward it to the CGPCC.

The CGPCC, thereafter, will decide over the candidature and if they fail to decide on the names then the AICC headquarter will announce the final list by mid-September.