Odisha Assembly polls: Congress to announce names of 70 candidates on March 1

Gearing up for the ensuing Odisha Assembly elections this year, the Congress party will announce the names of the first 70 candidates for as many seats on March 1.

The information was shared by Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Sarat Pattnaik at a press conference in Bhubaneswar today.

In an attempt to maintain transparency in candidate selection and ticket distribution, the Congress has launched a new initiative ‘Project Pragaman’ for the upcoming twin polls in Odisha.

The project also intends to recruit new leaders to the Congress party. This online portal launched in this regard remained open from 4 to 11 February 2024.

“From now onwards, only honest and dedicated Congress workers will get the chance to secure a ticket without any references and family lineage”, Congress’ Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar had said during the launch of the portal.

A 23-member Pradesh Election Committee (PEC) has been formed to finalise the tickets from the aspirants.

As per reports, 3000 applications were received for MLA tickets while 700 applications were received for MP seats through the Pragaman portal.

Speaking about the tickets, Congress MLA, Santosh Singh Saluja said, “The PEC will sit under the chairmanship of the OPCC chief. We will discuss the names and send those names to the AICC for approval.”

Odisha Mahila Congress's Samavesh on February 21

Meanwhile, Odisha Mahila Congress will organise a samavesh and gherao Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar on February 21. President of Odisha Mahila Congress Minakhi Bahinipati is likely to showcase the women's power at the samavesh which will be attended by national president of Mahila Congress Alka Lamba. 

Addressing a presser on Monday, Minakhi Bahinipati said that the samavesh will be held outside the Congress Bhawan and thousands of women workers of the party from various districts will attend the congregation.