Shillong, Jan 23: A list of Congress candidates is likely to be announced before the Republic Day, chief minister, Mukul Sangma said on Tuesday.
The chief minister told media persons after the meeting of the Pradesh Election Committee and Manifesto committee that the state Congress has conveyed its desire to the central leadership to complete the exercise before the Republic Day.
The meeting also discussed about the chief minister’s plans to contest from two seats – Songsak and his home constituency, Ampati in the upcoming Assembly polls slated for February 27.
The names of probale candidates would be sent to screening committee of the AICC and the list of candidates will be announced after the AICC president, Rahul Gandhi’s approval.
However in few constituencies the names of candidates would be screened within 48 hours by the Pradesh Election Commission before sending to the AICC screening committee.
On five MLAs who want to join Congress, the chief minister said that the party has examined their candidature and few of them will appear in the list of party’s candidates.
Earlier during the day, the papers of as many as 90 candidates were checked by the Pradesh election committee headed by state Congress president, Celestine Lyngdoh, where the chief minister, Congress MP from Shillong and state Congress working president, Vincent H. Pala, veteran leader and advisor to the State Congress, D.D. Lapang besides other members.
The Pradesh election committee headed by state Congress president, Celestine Lyngdoh screened names of 90 applicants from all the 60 seats.
However four Assembly seats – Pynthorumkhrah, Raliang, North Shillong, and South Shillong would be kept open for few days so as to allow more people to apply for party ticket.
Congress MP from Shillong and Meghalaya PCC working president, Vincent H. Pala said that the Pradesh election committee would send the names of ticket aspirants to the AICC screening committee headed by Oscar Fernandez as chairman
To a query that the Congress is making late announcement of candidates, Pala said that other parties have also not released their candidates till now, adding that the party has already told probable candidates to work in the ground.
On division within the Congress, Pala denied any division, saying those legislators who joined other parties have left the Congress party not because of division but because of their aspirations.