Cong to release early manifesto

Chhattisgarh Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday said that the ‘Chargesheet’ against the state government and the Congress' election manifesto would be released early this time as compared to last election.

" Generally the party goes for a secular status while distributing tickets to candidates. Women candidates will be given priority if there are able candidates but caste factor will also be taken into consideration where the candidate is weak, " Baghel said while addressing a press conference along with Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly T S Singhdeo.

The conference was called after Baghel, Singhdeo and most other Congress leaders, after attending the AICC meeting, returned to Raipur from New Delhi.

Baghel said that a booklet which charts the state government's failures in 13 years, of the government's 15-year rule, has been released and will be updated by adding the shortcomings in the remaining two years.

State legislative members from the Congress have decided to donate their one month salary towards the relief efforts in Kerala, T S Singhdeo said and added that more party leaders and workers will be motivated to donate.

He said that the amount would be deposited with the Rajiv Gandhi Relief and Welfare Trust.

" The state government has announced the relief only after the AICC had taken the initiative. Till date the ministers of the state have not taken any initiative," he said and termed the release of a relief train by the state ministers as a photo-opportunity.

He said that the rice being sent is not of the state government's but of the farmers from Chhattisgarh, and added that the government should not indulge in such gimmick.

Singhdeo also came down heavily on the BJP government for not ensuring adequate measures to fight the dengue menace in the state.

"Even after 15 years of rule, the government has not made any precautions at ground level. Even they know that every year during monsoons malaria and dengue spread all over the state, " he said.

Former minister Mohammed Akbar when asked about his allegations against administrative officials whom he claimed to be siding with the state government, said that when the time comes the names of such officials would be revealed and a complaint would be lodged with the Election Commission at an appropriate time.

" These officials have been exerting pressure on Sarpanch to make arrangement for people, food and showering of flowers through government order, " he said.

Baghel said that this time 1,900 applications for candidature have been received— last election the number was 2,400— and added that many candidates have started to withdraw their names and the list is being scrutinised at district level.

Singhdeo said that as the candidate selection process has already started, Rahul had given consent to extend the date of declaration of candidates by September and added that for the first time Congress workers are having a say in the selection process as booth-level participation has been ensured.