1,347 applications have been received from 68 assembly constituencies to become Congress candidates for the state assembly elections. Applications were invited till 5:00 PM on Thursday. 677 leaders and activists have submitted their claim by applying through e-mail and 670 through plain paper. Now these applications will be sorted from September 2 to 4 at the State Congress Headquarters Rajiv Bhawan Shimla. A meeting of the State Election Committee has been called in New Delhi on September 5. Party’s state in-charge Rajiv Shukla, state president Pratibha Singh, election campaign committee president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri will be present in this meeting. After the meeting of this committee, the panel of names of the candidates will be sent to the Central Screening Committee for final approval.

Congress is preparing to re-nominate its 20 sitting MLAs, three national secretaries, former ministers and about 35 big leaders including other senior leaders in the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections to be held later this year. To give tickets to these leaders to the Central Election Committee, only single names can be sent by the state.

Shimla Urban seat complicates the party 
Selecting the Congress candidate from Shimla Urban seat is not going to be easy for the party. There have been more than 40 applications in the city. Among those who applied for this seat, there are more supporters of former Chief Minister Late Virbhadra Singh and President of Election Campaign Committee Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu. Congress has to face defeat in Shimla city for three consecutive assembly elections.