Karnataka Polls: Congress to finalise 2nd list of candidates after CEC’s meeting

The Congress’ Central Election Committee meeting got underway at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday to finalise the second list of candidates for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections. The meeting is being chaired by Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

Karnataka assembly polls are scheduled to take place on 10 May and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge doesn’t want to leave any stone unturned.

The first list of 124 candidates for the upcoming assembly polls was declared on 25 March.

“There is a meeting of our selection committee, where discussion will take place on the remaining 100 seats.” “After the opinion of the people in the committee, a decision will be taken,” Kharge said.

Top brass of the Congress, including Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar, senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, Congress Bangalore Rural MP DK Suresh, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, and veteran leader Mohsina Kidwai, were spotted at the All India Congress Committee office for today’s meeting.

State assembly elections in Karnataka will be held on May 10, and counting is scheduled to take place on 13 May.

Veteran Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar will contest from Varuna and Kanakapura, respectively.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah wished to fight from the Kolar seat, but party high command asked to drop the plan after disagreement with the party’s local leaders. M Roopakala will be the candidate from the Kolar Gold Field constituency.

Meanwhile, a large number of Congress workers protested on Monday near the party office in Bengaluru, seeking tickets for their favourite leaders to fight in the forthcoming elections in Karnataka.