Congress poll list by March 12

Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, March 4 – Assam Congress list of candidates is now likely to be finalised by March 11-12, said Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi. Emerging from a meeting of the Screening Committee of the AICC, that was chaired by External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, Gogoi told newsmen that the Panel of names suggested by the State Election Committee was further pruned to two-three candidates per Parliamentary Constituencies.

Both Gogoi and State PCC president were tight-lipped about the list of candidates. The Screening Committee for Assam includes Oscar Fernandes, M Verrappa Moily, besides the Chief Minister and Bhubaneswar Kalita.

The list will now go to the Central Election Committee before being sent to Congress president, Sonia Gandhi for final approval.

The State election committee meeting this morning was a relatively smooth affair, with Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi taking charge. Yesterday’s meeting saw some fire works. Gogoi gave Dr Bhumidhar Barman a tongue lashing, when the State Minister suggested the name of CK Sarma for Mangaldai seat.

Similarly, the Chief Minister also snubbed Akon Bora, when he advocated the case of Madhab Rajbongshi, reportedly pointing out that the chance of success was the prime criteria and not the candidate’s community.

The Guwahati seat now has three contenders including Kirip Chaliha, Haren Das, Capt. Robin Bordoloi. For the Mangaldai seat, Dwijen Sarma, Madhab Rajbongshi, Rajiv Sarma have been short-listed.

The high-profile Lakhimpur seat has three contenders in fray, Bolin Kuli, Ranee Narah and Bobeeta Sarma. Sitting MP Anwar Hussain is fighting a tough battle to retain his seat. Former MP Abdul Hamid and Wajed Ali Choudhury’s name have been short listed, Party sources said.

For the Nagaon seat, Anil Raja and Bishnu Prasad have been short-listed. As reported yesterday, Congress has already recommended finalisation of candidates for six non-controversial seats.

Meanwhile, the general secretary in-charge for Assam virtually let out that Moni Kumar Subba is the Party’s candidate for Tezpur. When asked by reporters about Subba’s fate, he replied that he had personally gone through the papers and did not find anything objectionable on his eligibility!

For the Barpeta seat, Ismail Hussain and Rekibuddin Ahmed are in fray. However, Bhubaneswar Kalita said the Party has formally conveyed its inability to offer his son, Raja Osmani, nomination for the seat, surrendered by Golum Osmani. Assam Tribune