Bhubaneswar, Mar 13 (IANS): Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Niranjan Patnaik on Wednesday said the party will give priority to women during distribution of tickets for the upcoming general and Assembly elections in the state.

He said the party high command has asked them to put special emphasis on giving more tickets to women.

"As per the direction of All India Congress Committee (AICC), the party will give more tickets to women in the ensuing elections," said Patnaik.

He said the AICC Central Election Committee (CEC) has finalised the candidates for 15 Lok Sabha constituencies and 105 candidates for the Assembly elections.

The CEC will hold a meeting on March 16 for selection of candidates for the remaining six Lok Sabha seats and 42 Assembly seats.

Lok Sabha and Assembly elections will be held simultaneously in four phases in Odisha. The state has 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has already declared 33 per cent reservation for women in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.