Sonia unavailable, Cong defers list

Sonia has taken seriously the alleged disregard of the recommendations made by the team of observers headed by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker PM Sayeed.

The Congress failed to keep its promise of declaring the first list of candidates on Tuesday. Party sources said Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will vet each name on the list before it is cleared. Sonia saw no visitors on Tuesday.

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The sources did not expect the list to be finalised before Thursday evening or early Friday, the last day for filing nominations. The selected leaders may be informed over the phone or through personal messengers, they said.

According to sources, Sonia has taken seriously the alleged disregard of the recommendations made by the team of observers headed by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed. She has reportedly called for the entire list of recommendations made by this team, so that she can personally ensure all groups are accommodated in the final list and there is minimum heartburn.

A senior leader said that barring 40-odd seats, the race was wide open everywhere else. “The delay is due to the fact that the party president is yet to approve the names shortlisted by CM Sheila Dikshit, former MP Sajjan Kumar and AICC general secretary Ahmed Patel,” he said.