Suryakant Jena

Bhubaneswar: The Congress party in Odisha today informed that the first phase selection of candidates will be completed by February.

Odisha in-charge of the party, Jitendra Singh said that the Central Action Committee of the party has already finalised the prospective list of first 50 candidates who will be allotted tickets for the polls and their names will be announced by February.

Reviewing the preparations at Tamando ground in Bhubaneswar, where AICC president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address a gathering of party functionaries and general public on January 25, Singh said that the party has made it mandatory for ticket aspirants for each Assembly Constituency seat to ensure enrollment of at least 1500 to 2000 members.

"This enrollment criteria will help us know how much a particular candidate is connected with people. As elections are round the corner, the entire ticket allocation process will be completed by February," said Singh.

On exit of leaders from the party, Singh said that the exodus will have no impact on the party's prospects in the 2019 polls. "It's a part and parcel of politics. We have many aspiring and deserving candidates," he said.

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