While the Congress is conducting survey for fielding popular candidates in all Assembly constituencies of the State, it is being considered that the party has almost decided candidates for 55 to 60 seats, including sitting MlAs and some former candidates.
However, some MlAs have started protesting and every day some groups reach the Congress Bhavan and submit memorandums. Some of the MlAs are on the look for changing their constituency. According to sources, exercise for selecting candidates for Mission 2013 has been started at different levels in the Congress. The Pradesh Congress Committee has sought names of probable candidates from district and block presidents also, whereas, the party is conducting an independent survey also.
In the survey, popularity of claimants and their public image would be the main base for selection. At present the Congress has 38 MlAs in the State and all of them are considered claimants for the 2013 election. According to informed sources, though some of the MlAs were being considered weak, and protest has already began in the constituency concerned against giving ticket to them again, but it was almost decided to field most of the sitting MlAs. If the popularity of any of the MlAs is counted very less, then they may be stopped from contesting the election. In view of that tickets for about 34-35 out of the total 38 sitting MlAs are almost decided.
Opposition against field the MlA, who had defeated minister in the last election, has also started. Some factions have already become active in the constituencies against 1-2 MlAs. Besides the sitting MlAs, tickets for candidates, who have been defeated in the last election with less margin of votes, including Arun Vora, Manthuram Pawar, Bhupesh Baghel and Gulab Singh, have also been almost decided. Congress is considering declaration of candidates in most of the seats by October.