Cong grapples to finalise candidates for first phase

Bangalore, Apr 10(UNI) With heavy demand and party leaders using every means to land a ticket to contest in the coming assembly elections in Karnataka, the Congress Election Committee today shifted its meeting to a resort on the outskirts of the city.

According to party sources more than 890 applications were received for 89 seats in the first phase election to be held on May 10.

More than 2800 aspirants had claimed their stakes to contest from the party for the 224 seats. They had paid Rs 10,000 each for the applications forms.

The 35-member Selection Committee including KPCC President Mallikarjuna Kharge, Coordination Committee Chairman S M Krishna, former Chief Minister N Dharam Singh and others continued to work out the short listing the candidates.

"Since a large number of application have been received, the Committee may select two to three names for each constituency and leave the final selection to the AICC", party sources told UNI.

The Leadership is facing another problem of providing higher representation to women workers.

Mr Kharge responding to the demand had stated, "Party is committed to provide reservation for youth and women. However, it would be subjected to winning chances of the candidates".

Yesterday, Party Women wing, including several legislators in the dissolved Assembly and former Ministers had staged sit-in protest in front of the KPCC office in the city demanding 33 per cent reservation for Women in the selection of candidates.

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