Guwahati, February 26: The Congress party has faced a setback in its candidate selection process for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections. Following discrepancies in the initial candidate list, the party has ordered a fresh survey in approximately 30 assembly constituencies.
According to party sources, the decision for reevaluation was made after the intervention of Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. She has instructed a professional agency based in Delhi to conduct a new ground assessment.
This move comes at a time when Congress was nearing the finalization of its first candidate list.
The preliminary panel for these 30 constituencies was prepared by the state-level screening committee after consultations with district units, senior leaders, and observers. It is reported that this list had been sent for approval to the All India Congress Committee (AICC), with many names considered nearly finalized.
However, concerns have emerged regarding the winning potential of several candidates, their organizational acceptance, and local feedback.
Sources indicate that these issues prompted Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to decide on an independent survey to reassess the political ground realities before granting final approval.
A senior party official stated, “This survey aims to understand voter sentiment, caste and community equations, anti-incumbency trends, and the overall acceptability of potential candidates.” He noted that the revised process could play a crucial role in shaping the final candidate list.
This development has caused some unease within certain factions of the state Congress, particularly among aspirants who believed their candidacy was almost assured.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders assert that this step reflects the party leadership’s commitment to field strong and credible candidates in the electoral arena.
As the Assam elections approach, Congress faces pressure to make the right decisions regarding candidate selection, especially in constituencies where internal factionalism and tough competition could influence outcomes.
The party is also considering options for alliances and seat-sharing, further complicating the selection process.
Sources suggest that the new survey report is expected to be submitted to the AICC in the coming days. Following this, the screening committee may review its recommendations once again.
So far, the Congress leadership has not issued any official statement on the matter. However, insiders indicate that the final candidate list will be released only after a thorough examination of the new survey report, even if it leads to delays in the announcement.