'Caste Census In MP': Surjewala On Congress Agenda For MP Polls As Candidate List Awaited

Madhya Pradesh will hold assembly elections later this year. The state will elect lawmakers from 230 Assembly seats during the polls.

Senior Congress Leader Randeep Surjewala.

Source : PTI

After Central Election Committee meeting of Congress to finalise candidates for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections was held on Saturday, Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala stated that conducting the caste-based census in the poll-bound state will be one of the grand old party's main agenda, news agency PTI reported. Speaking with media, Surjewala stated: "We (Central Election Committee) have decided to meet again soon. Once we decide upon the names (of candidates), we will inform you. We also discussed about caste census in Madhya Pradesh."

VIDEO | "We (Central Election Committee) have decided to meet again soon. Once we decide upon the names (of candidates), we will inform you. We also discussed about caste census in Madhya Pradesh. We have decided that (conducting) caste census in Madhya Pradesh would be our main… pic.twitter.com/EhmA9cizxg

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 7, 2023

When questioned about the CM face for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh polls, Surjewala said: "Kamal Nath is president of Madhya Pradesh Congress & whoever is the president of Pradesh Congress that person is naturally the face of Congress..."

#WATCH | When asked about the CM face for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh elections, Congress MP Randeep Surjewala says, "Kamal Nath is president of Madhya Pradesh Congress & whoever is the president of Pradesh Congress that person is naturally the face of Congress..." pic.twitter.com/cEiMYc2IPo

— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2023

Madhya Pradesh will hold assembly elections later this year. The state will elect lawmakers from 230 Assembly seats during the polls.

The meeting was attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, as well as Congress MPs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The meeting was also attended by Congress leaders KC Venugopal and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath. 

Addressing the media after the meeting, Former Madhya Pradesh CM and Congress State President Kamal Nath stated: "We have held discussions on several names. At present, no decision has been taken. The decision will be taken in the next 6-7 days. We have held a discussion on 130-140 seats...Another meeting will be called and the decision will be made."

#WATCH | Delhi: After the Central Election Committee meeting of Congress to finalise candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections in Delhi, Former Madhya Pradesh CM and Congress State President Kamal Nath says, "...We have held discussions on several names. At present, no… pic.twitter.com/IY5J0e7FCd

— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2023

He further stated: "The entire state has understood CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan...He says that his party will form the govt, what else will he say?" 

During the meeting, according to the Congress leader Jitendra Singh, the grand old party decided not to give tickets to the candidates who in the previous elections have lost three times in a row. Speaking with reporters, Jitendra stated: "Today, a CEC meeting took place and in the meeting, we've discussed around 230 seats...We've discussed different criteria, the names are not yet finalised but in the next meeting, we will try...On most of the seats, discussion has happened...Winability is the biggest criterion."

#WATCH | After the Central Election Committee meeting of Congress to finalise candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections in Delhi, Congress leader Jitendra Singh says, "Today, a CEC meeting took place and in the meeting, we've discussed around 230 seats...We've discussed… pic.twitter.com/8pf3CVWjwG

— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2023

Earlier, on October 3, the Congress screening committee met to choose candidates for the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections.

The ruling BJP and the Congress have stepped up their campaigning ahead of the election, taking potshots at each other.

Both parties have mobilised their top leaders and campaign heavyweights, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah leading the BJP campaign and Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and other prominent leaders leading the Congress campaign.