Congress to release first list by September 14

Mumbai: The central election committee of the Congress is likely to release its first list of close to 60 names, including 14 for Mumbai, by mid-September, Congress sources told The Asian Age.

The screening committee, which is headed by senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, had held a meeting on Thursday to finalise names of the candidates. Maharashtra in-charge Mallikarjun Kharge, state unit president Balasaheb Thorat were also present for the meeting.   

“Close to 60 names would be declared in the first list by September 14. These names would comprise of sitting legislators and those who came second in the last Assembly election,” a senior Congress leader familiar with the developments said.

The screening committee will submit the names of candidates to the central election committee on September 10 for the final decision.

The leader added that the party has zeroed in on the final candidates for many of the seats, while there are multiple names doing the rounds for some of the remaining seats.  

Sources in the party said that the Congress has identified close to 100 seats itself and an equal number of seats for its ally, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

However, both parties are still holding discussions over the remaining 80 seats to reach a seat-sharing pact.

He also said that the remaining seats would be shared on the basis of 2009 Assembly election as well as the winability of the candidates.

The screening committee had short-listed at least two names for each seat. These names  will be sent to the central election committee of the Congress for its approval.