The Congress high-command has summoned the top party leaders of Chhattisgarh to New Delhi to take a final call on candidates for Chhattisgarh’s 11 seats. The State will go to polls in three phases on April 10, 17 and 24.
The leaders who have been asked to visit Delhi include State Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel and leader of the Opposition in the State assembly TS Singh Deo. Both the leaders will leave for the national capital on Friday morning.
Sources said the Congress was scheduled to hold a meet of its local office bearers in tribal dominated Kanker on Friday but the meeting has been rescheduled for March 9. The election would be held in Bastar lok Sabha seat in the first phase on April 10. This was the reason why the party has been in a hurry to declare the name of its candidate for the seat.
Sources said the Congress’ central election committee will hold a meeting on Friday and the name of the candidates for Chhattisgarh could be expected soon. Ticket aspirants seem to be anxious to know the outcome as many of them continue to camp in Delhi for past several days.
Initially the name of former chief minister Ajit Jogi was proposed for Bilaspur seat but the party is looking for somebody else after reports that Jogi was reluctant from Bilaspur. Sources at the party said Jogi believed to have shown his interest to contest from Kanker or Mahasamund.
The name of former minister Satayanarayan Sharma is also doing the rounds for Raipur seat. But former minister Muhammad Akbar seems to be the front runner for Raipur where the BJP is winning for the past four elections.
A section of Congressmen have been proposing the name of state Congress chief Baghel’s die-hard supporter Jayanti Sahu from Durg seat. Sources said the opinion of Congress treasurer Motilal Vora in the selection of candidate for this seat would be crucial.