The Pradesh Election Committee (PEC) of the Congress, which met here on Friday to recommend the names of possible lok Sabha candidates to the AICC Screening Committee for the coming general elections, decided to re-nominate all the six sitting MPs as candidates.
Some fresh candidates are likely to be fielded in the other seats to improve the party’s electoral fortune.
The PEC meeting was attended by 13 members and 12 special invitees.
PCC president Jayadev Jena told reporters after the PEC meeting, “We have decided to recommend the names of all the six sitting MPs to the AICC Screening Committee headed by party president Sonia Gandhi to take a final decision.” The six MPs are interested to contest in the ensuing elections, he said. Winnability would be the main criterion in recommending names for the other seats, he said.
“The District Congress Committees have recommended several names and we came to the conclusion that winnability will be the main criterion for selection of the candidates. Our priority will be fielding youths in the elections within this overall criterion,” said Jena.
However, many DCC presidents have recommended their names to the PEC expressing to contest in the elections, even though some of them had lost as MlA or MP candidates in the 2009 elections.
“Yes, many district presidents have recommended their names. They may emerge victorious this time,” said Nabarangpur MP Pradip Majhi.
Former Koraput MP and former Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang is likely to get ticket this time even though he contested unsuccessfully in the 2009 polls. “If a nine-time MP lost once, that does not mean he should not be considered,” said Gamang.
Senior Congress leader lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra opposed the move of some sitting MPs, including Union Minister Srikant Jena, to contest from other constituencies. He said local leaders who have worked for the people should be recommended for the constituencies.
Former PCC president Niranjan Patnaik expressed his willingness to contest lok Sabha polls.
According to sources, the PEC has recommended three names from each of the remaining 15 constituencies. The State has 21 lok Sabha seats.