STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: General Secretary (In-Charge of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee) of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Jitendra Singh has asserted that the Congress will give preference to youths and women in allotment of the party tickets to contest the ensuing Assembly elections in Assam.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday Singh said while some of the sitting Congress MLAs are facing anti-incumbency, a few of them have lost touch with the public. All such factors will be taken into consideration while allotting the party tickets, he said.
"It is a reality that all sitting Congress MLAs may not get tickets for the forthcoming elections in Assam. This policy of Congress is not only applicable in case of Assam but also for other States. The preliminary exercise of selecting eligible candidates has already started. The exercise is expected to be over by the next 48 hours," Singh said.
Singh said the party is simultaneously carrying the exercises of tickets allotment and seat sharing with its alliance partners. The Congress has forged a grand alliance or Mahajoot with the AIUDF, CPI, CPI(M), CPI (ML), Anchalik Gana Morcha and Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF) to contest the ensuing assembly elections to prevent the ruling BJP to come to power again.
The AICC general secretary alleged that the ruling BJP has caused extensive damages to Assam's identity and culture. He said the prime objective of the Mahajoot is to safeguard Assam's unique identity.
On the other hand a meeting of the Election Committee of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) was held in a city hotel where many top party leaders including Jitendra Singh and APCC president Ripun Bora were present. The final seal of approval on the lists of eligible candidates will be given by the Central Election Committee of AICC.