Bhubaneswar: Soon after the first phase meeting of Congress Pradesh Election Committee (PEC) concluded Monday, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Niranjan Patnaik made it clear that new faces will be given priority during selection of candidates for the upcoming General Elections in 2019.
Stating that guidelines are being prepared for selection of candidates, Patnaik revealed that the present MLAs will also be getting party tickets in the elections.
Speaking to media, the Patnaik said, “The first phase of PEC meeting began Monday. The meeting discussed on various agendas including the guidelines and criteria for candidate selection. Guidelines have been limited to discussion only and nothing has been finalised. New and fresh faces will be given tickets this time and the sole criteria is ‘Winnability’.
Moreover, candidates who lost deposits in the last general elections will not be given party tickets, sources said.
On the other hand, senior Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati has stated that the party members working at the grassroots level and connected with the people will get the tickets for the upcoming 2019 elections.
Odisha Congress in-charge, Jitendra Singh Sunday had informed that the party will declare its first list of candidates within 15 days.
