The Central Election Committee (CEC) of the Congress party has given its president Mallikarjun Kharge and former chief Sonia Gandhi the authority to decide the remaining candidates for the Lok Sabha election. This development came after the party announced over 280 seats, with Haryana and other regions still pending.
During a meeting on Sunday, the CEC reviewed the remaining candidates in Bihar, Haryana, and Punjab. Notably, the agenda didn’t include Amethi and Raebareli, two significant seats in Uttar Pradesh. Kharge and Gandhi took charge of the final decisions, with other CEC members waiting outside during a private meeting lasting 15-20 minutes.
The discussion’s contents remain unknown, as even basic refreshments like tea or water weren’t provided during the closed-door meeting. A senior leader remarked, “No one knows what transpired during that discussion as even tea or water was not allowed in.” This secrecy has led to speculation and anticipation regarding the final candidate list.
With Haryana still without announced candidates and the remaining seats in other key states undecided, this high-level authorization could significantly impact Congress’s campaign strategy. The role of Sonia Gandhi, known for her deep influence in the party, adds weight to the final outcomes from the CEC’s decisions.
As Congress prepares to finalize its candidate list, political analysts and party members will closely watch how Kharge and Sonia Gandhi’s decisions shape the party’s prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
