The first list of 100-125 Congress candidates for western UP and Rohilkhand region that go to polls in the first and second phases of elections on February 10 and 14, respectively, will be declared immediately after Makar Sankranti.
As per sources in the Congress, the party high command has finalised around 200-225 tickets for the assembly elections and most of these candidates, including 40 per cent women aspirants, have been contacted personally and asked to go to their respective areas and start campaigning. However, an official announcement has not been made yet as the party has decided to declare candidates after Makar Sankranti, the sources added.
In the first phase, elections will be held for 58 assembly seats in western Uttar Pradesh. As per the party's strategy, candidates will be declared on these seats first and some of the candidates being fielded in the second phase may also be officially ticked. On the other hand, Congress has asked sitting MLAs to concentrate on their respective constituencies.
UP Congress chief and MLA Ajay Kumar Lallu has also camped in his constituency, Tamkuhiraj, and party’s all national secretaries and state office-bearers have also been sent to the respective areas.
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary and party in-charge of UP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s birthday was celebrated at the UP Congress headquarters on Mall Avenue in Lucknow on Wednesday.
On this occasion, Congress office-bearers and workers cut a cake and wished for her long life.