Bhubaneswar: Congress will finalize the list of candidates for the coming general elections in two months time.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary, Jitendra Singh, Sunday said, ” Broadly, the party would select candidates at the national level and in states for the ensuing general elections in two months time”. Singh, who was in-charge of Odisha affaris, said that the candidates for the Odisha Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha seats will be selected within two months time.
“Merit, youth and women would get the priority”, the AICC general secretary said when asked what would be the criterion for selection of candidates.
Singh, who was here for two days to preside over the coronation of the Odisha Congress’ new president Niranjan Patnaik, told media persons that there is a resurgent enthusiasm among the Congress cadres in the state. Victory is not imporatant for Congress, the people’s trust on the party is more desirable now, he said.
The new president of Odisha Congress, Niranjan Patnaik, leader of the opposition, Narasingha Mishra, Jaganath Patnaik and Kailash Acharya were present.
In Odisha, out of 21 Lok Sabha seats, the BJD has 20 and the BJP 1. In the 147 seats state assembly, the ruling BJD has 118, Congress 15 and BJP 10.
