Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 31: As per information, Dakshina Kannada (DK) District Women's Congress president, Shalet Pinto, and two others have remained in the race for the post of the president of Karnataka State Women's Congress unit. There are bright chances of Shalet bagging it, as per information.

DK district has reasons to claim right over this post as none from this district have been made president of this unit so far. Shalet has been putting in efforts to be chosen to this position, sources said. Current incumbent, Laxmi Hebbalkar, is vacating the spot as she is MLA now, and the party is following one person - one seat norm.

Shalet Pinto

All India Congress Committee has set the process of selecting a new president for state Congress unit into motion, and over 70 have evinced interest. 15 among them were interviewed at New Delhi last year by Sushmita Dev, president of women's Congress unit of All India Congress Committee. She had shortlisted Pushpa Amarnath, Dr Nagalakshmi, Sharada Gowda, Shalet Pinto, and Bharathi Shankar, and sent the list to national president of the party,m Rahul Gandhi. Rahul interviewed these five people on Saturday and sent the final list to state Congress president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, and Karnataka Congress affairs in-charge, K C Venugopal. These leaders will hold discussions with other state leaders and arrive at a decision.

It is said that Shalet Pinto, former president of Mysuru zilla panchayat, Pushpa Amarnath, and dentist, Dr Nagalakshmi, are in the forefront of the race. All the three appear to be having the backing of influential politicians from the state, sources stated. In all likelihood, the name of the chosen leader would be made public after the bypoll.