Mangalore: Internal election on March 9 to decide Congress candidate

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Feb 22: "The process for internal voting to choose the Congress candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections from Mangalore will begin from Sunday February 23. As part of internal election, 16 ARO (assembly returning officers) in eight constituencies, and two LRO (Lok Sabha returning officers) will be deployed in Dakshina Kannada," said Preniel Naik, LRO for internal election from All India Congress Committee (AICC).

Addressing a press meet here on Saturday February 22, Naik said, "Voters can enroll their names between February 23 and February 25 till 1 pm at the party block office. There will be 19 criteria based on which the voters will be selected, such as the voter has to be former MP or hold top positions in panchayats or Seva Dal, etc. The AROs will scrutinize the draft voters' list and publish it on February 26. There will be an opportunity to point out any error in the list on February 27." Results are expected to be out by the evening the same day.

He further added, "Candidates will file their nominations on February 28 between 12 noon and 4 pm. On the same day scrutiny of candidates will be done. On March 1 objections to the nominations can be filed. On March 2, the final list of candidates will be displayed in DCC office.

"The internal voting will be held on March 9 after a convention of voters. Candidates will also be provided an opportunity to address the voters within the party to brief on their achievements."

On this occasion LRO Pramod Kumar, Dr Hanumanthaiah, general secretary, KPCC, Ibrahim Kodijal and B H Khader Bantwal were present.

While probable claimants for the seat from Dakshina Kannada are B Janardhan Poojary and Harsha Moily, Bangalore (north) constituency has many aspirants like B L Shankar, Prof Rajeev Gowda, Aarati Krishna, C Narayana Swamy, Ramesh B Gowda, and K C Rama Murthy.