Congress panel meets, near consensus on 70 nominees in Punjab

New Delhi, January 4

The Congress screening committee for Punjab elections in its first meeting on Tuesday reached near consensus on candidates for 70 of the state’s 117 segments and will meet again on Wednesday to give the final shape to its shortlist.

The panel, headed by AICC general secretary incharge of Rajasthan Ajay Maken, met here this evening with CM Charanjit Singh Channi absent on account of a parallel meeting of the state Cabinet scheduled in Chandigarh today.

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, Punjab campaign committee chairman Sunil Jakhar and AICC incharge of the state Harish Chaudhry were present along with panel members — Krishna Allavaru and Chandan Yadav.

The list of candidates will be finalised tomorrow and forwarded to the party’s Central Election Committee for approval.

The sources said the party was deliberating on replacing a few MLAs — with discussions underway on around five — but is in a fix on whether to drop sitting legislators with the BJP and Amarinder Singh’s outfit waiting in the wings to poach. — TNS