Congress sets up screening committee ahead of Himachal Pradesh polls

The panel will screen the Congress candidates for all 68 assembly constituencies before their names are approved and recommended by the state election committee for the final nod from the party leade

New Delhi, October 13: In view of the upcoming Himachal Pradesh assembly election, the Congress party on Friday set up a three-member screening committee headed by former MP Jitendra Singh to zero down on candidates.

The panel will screen the Congress candidates for all 68 assembly constituencies, before their names are approved and recommended by the state election committee for the final nod from the party leadership.

"Congress President Sonia Gandhi has approved the Screening Committee for the forthcoming Himachal Pradesh Assembly election, with former MP Jitendra Singh as its chairman and Vijay Inder Singla and Gaurav Gogoi as its members," Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said in a statement.

The Election Commission had yesterday declared the dates for the Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh which will be held in a single phase on November 9 and the results will be declared on December 18.

The process of filing nominations would begin on October 16 with the issue of notification and the candidates can file their papers till October 23.

The ruling Congress is locked in an intense battle in the hill state with the BJP, which is preparing to win back power from its traditional arch-rival.

The Congress is facing anti-incumbency but is out to capture power in the state again.

The party in power has never been re-elected by the state's electorate.

The Congress has already announced to go into the polls under the leadership of chief minister Virbhadra Singh.

Singh has been miffed with the party high command for not changing PCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, saying he cannot work with him.

The high command has, however, not heeded to Singh's demand and has tried to pacify him.

PTI