Congress Party will soon declare its list of candidates for the ensuing Assembly poll as members of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress poll panel including former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi put their views before the Central leaders while submitting their lists of probable candidates in a meeting on Sunday.
After this, the party’s Central poll screening committee will finalise the list before sending it to the party high command for final approval.
Notably, after months of bickering and postponement of first meet amid boycott threat of rival factions, meeting of CGPCC poll panel was held in New Delhi on Sunday evening which was attended by CGPCC President Charandas Mahant, State Congress legislature Party leader Ravindra Choubey, former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, State Congress Programme Coordinator Bhupesh Baghel, All India Congress Committee Treasurer Motilal Vora, Poll Screening Committee chairman C P Joshi and AICC General Secretary and Chhattisgarh In-charge B K Hariprasad among others.
After the meet, Hariprasad told the media persons that with submitting the panel of probable candidates and putting views before the central leaders, the role of State poll panel is complete. After this the central poll screening committee will make the final list before sending it to the party high command for approval. The party will soon convene meeting of the screening committee, Hariprasad added.
Meanwhile, party sources claimed that central leaders were claiming unity only superficially as deep divide within the ranks of state unit was palpably evident in the Sunday meeting as former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi not only submitted a separate list of candidates but also insisted on ticket for at least 45 seats of his liking.
Jogi reportedly advocated for giving tickets to candidates having potential to win the poll rather than attaching any pre condition. The establishment faction led by Mahant and Choubey was however not ready to concede more than 30 seats out of the 90.
CP Joshi, chairman of the Central poll screening committee and a confidant of AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi, reportedly succeeded in convincing Jogi not to take any drastic step before the preparations of final lists dropping clear hint that his interests will be taken care of.
President of CGPCC Charandas Mahant said that the state unit has submitted all the panels of names forwarded by BCCs and DCCs as well as the pruned lists of candidates with recommendations that while all the sitting MlAs should be given priority in allotment of tickets but those who lost the last poll with thin margins should also be given another chance.