Parties finalising lists

The Congress has intensified its drive to shortlist candidates to the 70 assembly seats. So far, a six-member screening committee has met eight times but failed to reach a unanimous decision.

The Congress has intensified its drive to shortlist candidates to the 70 assembly seats.

HT Image

So far, a six-member screening committee has met eight times but failed to reach a unanimous decision. Insiders said the body’s job has become more difficult with the high command insisting they send one name per constituency.

Factionalism within the state Congress has also compounded matters with both Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit and Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president J.P. Aggarwal wanting their own set of candidates. “Both of them are not willing to back out. They are backing their candidates from about 15 seats,” said a Congress leader on condition of anonymity.

However, Aggarwal refuted charges of factionalism and said: “The state screening committee is likely to finalise the list of candidates by tomorrow and send it to the central committee for final clearance. We have already shortlisted candidates for about 50 seats.”

Meanwhile the Delhi BJP has also started its process to finalise its list. “We have decided to announce our list after Diwali,” said Dr Harsh Vardhan.

The Samajwadi Party on Wednesday announced its first list of 24 candidates for the polls.