Cong observer meets party workers over selection of candidate

Bhopal, Oct 7 (UNI) Congress Rajya Sabha MP and party observer J P Agrawal today met party workers, leaders and office bearers regarding party candidate for upcoming by-election to prestigious Vidisha parliamentary seat.

''I will submit my report to Congress Parliamentary Board, which will take the final decision on the name of party candidate,'' Mr Agrawal told reporters before departing for New Delhi.

He claimed that party workers had informed him that they would accept the decision of the Congress President with regards to party candidate.

Mr Agrawal made it clear that his duty was only to communicate the sentiments of party workers to central organisation. The name of the candidate would be decided before October 13, last date for filing the nomination.

Meanwhile, sources said names of former MP Pratapbhanu Sharma, Narmada Prasad Sharma, former district panchayat president Rajyashree Singh, Jaiprakash Paliwal and former Bhopal Mayor Vibha Patel came up during the meeting.

Mr Paliwal was said to be the choice of state Congress President Subhash Yadav.

Political observers feel that party heavyweights in the state were not opening their cards as the name would be decided in New Delhi. It was felt that they would present their case in the national capital.

Meanwhile, the candidature of Mr Jagdish Shukla, supporter of Congress General Secretary Satyawrat Agrawal, from Malehara Vidhan Sabha seat was being considered final in view of the latter's important role in selection of the candidate.

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