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Haryana Congress shortlists 30 for Lok Sabha polls

Chandigarh: The Haryana unit of the Congress has short-listed a panel of 30 candidates, including eight sitting MPs, for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, AICC secretary and party MP from Orissa, R. C. Khuntia said on Tuesday.

He said the party’s screening committee will go through the names after which the Congress Central Election Committee will take a final decision and announce the names of 10 candidates for equal number of parliamentary seats from the State.

Addressing a news conference here, he said the party was all geared up to face the upcoming polls and exuded confidence that the Congress would win all the 10 seats. Asked if the name of party’s senior leader and State Finance Minister Birender Singh, who was also present at the press conference, had been included in the 30 short-listed names, Working President of the State Congress Kuldeep Sharma said: “Parliament has always been his (Birender’s) first love”. About State Congress chief Phool Chand Mullana also being a probable candidate to contest the Lok Sabha polls, Mr. Sharma said: “I have read in the newspapers that he wants to contest, but the party has not so far taken any decision”.

To a question, Mr. Khuntia made it clear that while deciding on candidates various factors including winnability will be kept in mind. “Even if the selection is not to the liking of any leader, howsoever big or small he may be, the decision will be taken keeping in view party’s larger interest,” he said.

He said that unlike “smaller parties it is not Congress’ culture where candidates can manage tickets by spending huge sums of money.PTI

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