Rajasthan elections 2018: Congress likely to come out with first list of candidates by Oct 25

Jaipur: The Congress is likely to announce its first list of candidates for the forthcoming assembly elections in Rajasthan by October 25. The Congress screening committee members – headed by Kumari Selja – visited Jaipur last week and are learnt to have finalized some names.

According to senior Congress leaders, nearly 3000 candidates have approached the committee seeking tickets for the 200 assembly seats.  About 10-15 candidates are trying to get tickets for each seat in Rajasthan.

Congress Screening Committee Head, Kumari Selja visited Jaipur on October 12 to deliberate on the list of candidates.

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee leaders and AICC steering committee members are being approached by ticket seekers, including bureaucrats from the state.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi has directed the committee to give priority to youths and female candidates for the upcoming election, sources said.

Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot said the party will give tickets to winnable candidates in the state and if it comes to power it will focus on the issues of farmers and youths.

The number of woman candidate seeking tickets is on a rise. The party gave tickets to 23 female candidates in 2013. The number may increase this year.

Manvendra Singh, Son of veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh joined the Congress Party on Wednesday. A press conference was held at AICC Delhi to welcome Manvendra to the party.

Read also: Manvendra Singh joins Congress ahead of Rajasthan assembly elections