Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala unit of the Congress will hand over to the party national leadership a list of candidates for Lok Sabha polls this week itself. The decision was taken after a meeting of the state election committee and individual interviews of shortlisted party members.
AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik, KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran and opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala held talks with all 31 members of the poll panel on Monday. The list will be handed over to the central screening committee once a decision on candidates is reached.
Vasnik wants a list to be prepared as soon as possible. Mullappally said the discussions have only begun and a decision will be reached soon.
One candidate each will be proposed by the KPCC for nine constituencies in the seat from where the Congress intends to contest.
As per a High Command directive, no discussions will be held for 11 sitting seats on which four UPA allies would put up their own candidates. That leaves candidates for nine seats to be decided, said Wasnik.
Victory probability should be the only criterion for selecting candidates, the panel was told.
Care would be taken not to repeat the mistakes in choosing candidates as had happened ahead of the 2014 elections. Candidate selection for some seats require meticulous planning, taking into consideration community equations.
It was decided not to hold discussions over candidates at the meetings of the poll panel. AICC general secretary Oommen Chandy suggested quizzing each member individually.
Likely candidatures were discussed in individual sessions though a proposal to quiz those interested in contesting by a a larger panel comprising Wasnik, Mullappally, Chennithala, Chandy, KC Venugopal, PC Chacko and Benny Behanan was floated.
Former KPCC president VM Sudheeran conveyed his inability to contest.