20 days left; Congress still in dark about Tamil Nadu polls

Chennai, Mar 23: The crucial Tamil Nadu assembly polls will be held on Apr 13. All parties have fastened their belts and started election preparation with full zeal. But it seems that the Congress has landed in a soup when it comes to decide the nominees ahead of the election.

Following some serious differences among the candidates over 20 constituencies, the Congress in the state is yet to finalise its lists for the candidates for the upcoming election.

While asked about the candidate-lists fiasco, an AICC office-bearer stated, "All 34 sitting MLAs want to be renominated. Already, nine seats have been given to the Youth Congress-and it's likely to get one more."

The AICC official also continued, "Mahila and Seva Dals are left. Totally, there are 100 serious contenders now (new faces) from all groups. Do you think finalising the list is an easy job?"

However, party sources informed that despite party president Sonia Gandhi's diktat about the list of candidates recommended by the screening committee, differences in opinions still prevail among the party leaders.

Sources from Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) stated that the intense factional fight for a better share of seats is at the centre of the imbroglio.

The Election Commission declared Apr 13 as the election date for Tamil Nadu along with Kerala and Pondicherry. The counting will be held on May 13.

OneIndia News