It may take some time to announce the Congress candidate for the by-election to be held on November 20 on the Kedarnath assembly seat. In a meeting of senior Congress leaders of the state held in New Delhi on Thursday under the chairmanship of state in-charge Kumari Selja, it was unanimously decided that a panel of two or three names will be formed for candidate selection based on the report of observers. Congress’s eyes are set on the announcement of the BJP candidate.
While assessing the possibilities of victory in the by-election, there was also brainstorming on betting on the dissatisfied BJP. At present, the party’s strategy is of wait and watch.
On the call of state in-charge Kumari Selja, state president Karan Mahara, leader of opposition Yashpal Arya, former state president Pritam Singh, observers former state president Ganesh Godiyal, deputy leader of opposition Bhuvan Kapri, MLA Virendra Jati and Lakhpat Singh Butola participated in the meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. Congress Working Committee member Gurdeep Singh Sappal, State Co-incharge Pargat Singh were also present on the occasion. The report of the observers was discussed in the meeting. Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya and former state president Pritam Singh also shared their views. Everyone unanimously stressed on preparing a panel of two or three names on the basis of the report of the observers. Soon this panel will be presented to the screening committee. After which the candidate will be declared at the level of the screening committee and the high command.
Sailja pacified the matter by calling it an error of her office
In the meeting, State President Karan Mahara objected to sending the report of the observers directly to the state in-charge Kumari Selja through e-mail. The state in-charge, considering it a mistake of his office, pacified the matter by expecting not to give importance to this issue. Earlier, this topic was also raised in the virtual meeting called by in-charge Selja on 22 October. There was also a debate between State President Karan Mahara and Senior Observer Ganesh Godiyal. After the intervention of the in-charge on Thursday, both the leaders met each other after the meeting and gave a message of unity.
Harak should tell whether he wants to contest the by-election or not
State Congress President Karan Mahara said that all the colleagues present in the meeting expressed their views openly. The state in-charge and co-in-charge were made aware of the ground reality and equation of Kedarnath assembly, so that a strong candidate can be fielded in the election. The name of former cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat is not included as a candidate in the Kedarnath by-election in the report of the observer team. It is a different matter that his claim was also discussed in the meeting. It was said that regarding the claim, first Harak Singh Rawat himself will have to clarify whether he wants to contest the by-election or not.
