From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Belagavi, Dec 19: All the Block and District Congress Units have been asked to send a revised list of candidates, shortlisting 1 to 3 candidates for all the 224 assembly constituencies in the State by January 1 to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, said KPCC Chief D K Shivakumar.

Speaking to reporters at Belagavi after holding a meeting of State Congress Election Committee last night, Shivakumar said the State party election committee will finalise the list based on the revised list and strive to select unanimous candidates for all constituencies.

"We want the Congress candidates for the ensuing assembly polls to represent the collective and unanimous views of the entire party from the grassroots level,’’ he said. Answering a pointed question on whether the Congress list will be released by Sankranti, January 14, the KPCC Chief said: ``We plan to hold the State Election Committee meeting in Bengaluru on January 5 and strive to publish the list as early as possible by January 15.’’

To a question on some Congress leaders announcing names of the party candidates in some specific constituencies, he said nobody is authorised to do that and if anybody does it, notices will be issued to such persons.

He, however, refused to discuss the announcement of some candidates by Congress opposition leader in the assembly and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Asked whether the party will consider names of persons outside the list sent by the district party units, Shivakumar clarified that as of now the names of only those persons who have submitted applications in the prescribed format by paying the fees were being clarified.

"If we get better candidates for specific constituencies, we will certainly consider such names,’’ he said.

AICC General Secretary and State party in charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, Siddaramaiah, KPCC Working Presidents Ishwar Khandre, Saleem Ahmed, Satish Jarkiholi, former Union Minister K H Muniappa, former minister H K Patil, K J George, H C Mahadevappa and others participated.