The Congress party is likely to declare names of its candidates for lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh next week, party sources here informed.
However, according to informed sources, tug-of-war for four seats is still on for Mahasamund, Bilaspur, Kanker and Durg seats. Besides, the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi will take a decision on the Mahasamund seat.
According to Congress Party National Treasurer , Motilal Vora, the party's 'Election Campaign Committee' had held its meeting on Thursday, in which
discussions were held on
devising strategies for the
election campaign.
However, while no discussion was held on the seats of the State, but Vora had indicated that the candidates could be declared next week. According to some party sources, situation of dispute is still going on Mahasamund, Bilaspur, Kanker and Durg seats.
Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi has proposed the name of former MP Karuna Shukla from Bilaspur seat. However, some local leaders have openly opposed the proposal and have registered their protest with the State In-charge of the party BK Hariprasad
besides Vora.
They said that giving ticket to those who have come from other parties would not send a good message. However, besides Jogi, some national leaders are also supporting Shukla for the seat.
Some leaders consider that by giving ticket to the niece of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Karuna Shukla, the party would not only get political benefits, but she could be used for aggressive campaigning against the BJP.
According to the sources, Mahasamund seat was the first preference of Jogi, but daughter of former Union Minister the late Vidyacharan Shukla, Pratibha Pandey is the claimant of the seat. Though some leaders have advised Pandey not to contest the election, but she is adamant. She met the party President Sonia Gandhi also. However, decision on her would be taken by Sonia Gandhi.
The next priority of Jogi is the Kanker seat, where, earlier, local leaders had strongly raised their voice against fielding ex-IAS officer Shishupal Sori. But now, as the name of Jogi is coming to the fore, they are in a dilemma. However, two MlAs from the parliamentary seat have come forward in support of Jogi.
Besides Kanker, dispute is still lingering on the Durg and Nandgaon seats. Names of Pradeep Choubey and Tamradwaj Sahu are in circulation from Durg seat. Some leaders associated with the State President of the party Bhupesh Baghel have proposed the name of Jayanti Sahu from the seat. However, Vora so far did not expressed his likings on the seat. Name of Kameshwar Sharma from Nandgaon is on the top of the list.
The name of Ramdevram is almost decided from Surguja seat. Similarly, lakheshwar Baghel from Bastar, Pushpadevi Singh from Raigarh are considered to be almost decided.
According to the sources, informal discussion on the disputed seas is going on. However, names all the Congress candidates would be declared in the first list.