The Opposition Congress on Tuesday said it would start holding a series of preparatory meetings for the lok Sabha elections which will be held in mid-April this year.
The preparation will continue even though the Assembly was in session, Congress media cell chief Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said. State Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel and leader of the Opposition TS Singh Deo will hold the meetings on January 8, 9, and 10 at the party headquarters in Gandhi Maidan here and review the situation constituency wise. Chhattisgarh has a total of 11 lok Sabha seats and the Congress had managed to win just one seat (Korba) in last parliamentary polls held in 2009.
The important party functionaries who will attend the meeting include in-charge of each constituency. Besides general secretary, vice-president and other top office bearers of the State Congress will also attend the meets. The legislators and those aspiring for party tickets in the ensuing election will also be invited to present their views.
The party has decided to hold the meeting on Bastar, Sarguja, Kanker and Raigarh on Jan 8. Similarly next day, the party will review the situation in the lok Sabha constituencies of Janjgir-Champa, Rajnandgaon and Bilaspur. The leaders are scheduled to hold meet on Durg, Mahasamund and Raipur on Jan 10. The party leaders are also expected to discuss on the political situation and other issues which were prevailing in the concerned constituencies.
Union Minister of State Charan Das Mahant represents Korba constituency in the lok Sabha. Both Baghel and Singh Deo will discuss with Mahant and finalise a date to hold discussion on his constituency.