After several rounds of consultations, the Congress has decided to come out with a first list of party candidates for some of the Lok Sabha constituencies in the State in the first week of February.
Speaking to The Hindu here on Thursday, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G. Parameshwara said the next meeting of the State screening committee would be held in New Delhi on Monday (February 27).
Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi heads the screening committee for Karnataka.
The party plans to issue ticket to all present Lok Sabha members (of the party) from the State. The elections are likely to be held in April-May. However, the first list will not contain names of existing MPs. The KPCC chief said already a list of probable candidates has been sent to the party high command. The screening committee would closely scrutinise the names and then announce the first list.
The United Progressive Alliance government will hold a Parliament session from the first week of February. Keeping in mind the attendance of members at the session, the second list of candidates would be announced in the last week of February.
There are nine Congress members in the Lok Sabha.
Dr. Parameshwara, who was in New Delhi on Wednesday, called on several Congress leaders and discussed several issues.
The early finalisation of candidates would give at least two to three months time to the candidates to prepare for the elections. The party high command is keen on early declaration of candidates for Lok Sabha polls.
Sonia’s tourThe Congress leader said AICC president Sonia Gandhi will visit Gulbarga on February 1 to address a Gulbarga divisional-level party workers’ convention.
The KPCC has organised the event to thank Ms. Gandhi and the Manmohan Singh government for granting special status to the Hyderabad Karnataka region under Article 371 (J) of the Constitution.
All Union Ministers from the State, Chief Minister Siddarmaiah and State Cabinet Ministers will attend. The KPCC has decided to hold divisional-level conventions in all four divisions.
