Lok Sabha Elections: Congress Meeting To Finalise First List Of Candidates Concludes

Chaired by Congress president Kharge, the committee comprises Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, party general secretary K C Venugopal, Ambika Soni, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, T S Singhdeo, among others.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge with party leaders Sonia Gandhi and KC Venugopal during the Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, at AICC Headquarters in New Delhi,.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: The Congress's Central Election Committee (CEC) on Thursday held its first meeting to finalise the party's candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The meeting took place at AICC Headquarters in Delhi.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, as well as other senior leaders were present at the meeting.

Speaking about the meeting, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, "It was a good discussion. Discussion was held on all the seats. As soon as CEC decides, you will be told. Whatever decision is taken AICC will brief..."

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress leader Sachin Pilot says, "It was a good discussion. Discussion was held on all the seats. As soon as CEC decides, you will be told. Whatever decision is taken AICC will brief..." pic.twitter.com/8DB875uQkN

— ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2024

When asked if he will be contesting in the Lok Sabha elections, Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said, "The spokesperson will speak."

The meeting is expected to discuss the finalization of candidates for various states including Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Telangana, Lakshadweep, Kerala, Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim, Manipur, and others.

#WATCH | Delhi | Congress CEC meets to select candidates for Lok Sabha elections pic.twitter.com/eqLkbakWkm

— ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2024

As of now, the Congress has not announced any candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Last week, the BJP unveiled its initial list of 195 candidates for the polls.

Sources within the Congress suggest that the party is likely to release its first list of candidates soon to kickstart their election campaigns, reported PTI.

Speculations are rife about the potential candidature of Rahul Gandhi from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Rae Bareli, constituencies previously held by Sonia Gandhi. Both seats are considered strongholds of the Gandhi family, and local Congress units have urged the scions of the family to contest from there, as per the PTI report.

While Rahul Gandhi lost Amethi in 2019 but secured victory from Wayanad in Kerala, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's candidacy from Rae Bareli is being anticipated.

Various state units of Congress have conducted meetings of their screening committees and have forwarded lists of potential candidates in their respective states, the PTI report added.

Chaired by Congress president Kharge, the committee comprises Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, party general secretary K C Venugopal, Ambika Soni, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, T S Singhdeo, Mohammad Jawaid, among others.