New Delhi/Patna: The Indian National Congress has constituted a crucial screening committee for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, signaling its strategic preparations for the polls. Senior party leader Ajay Maken has been appointed as the chairman of this influential committee.
The committee’s other members include prominent figures such as Praniti Shinde, Imran Pratapgarhi, and Kunal Choudhary. Their primary mandate will be to meticulously select candidates and identify winnable assembly seats across Bihar.
Key Inclusions and Notable Omission
The screening committee will also comprise several key Bihar Congress leaders, including:
- Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru
- State President Rajesh Kumar
- Leader of the Legislative Party in the Assembly Dr. Shakeel Ahmed Khan
- Leader of the Legislative Party in the Legislative Council Dr. Madan Mohan Jha
- AICC Secretaries Devendra Yadav, Shahnawaz Alam, and Sushil Kumar Pasi
Notably, former state president of Congress, Akhilesh Singh, has not been included in this newly formed committee.
Committee’s Mandate: Strengthening Organization and Ensuring Victory
The screening committee’s multifaceted role will involve:
- Investigating and selecting potential candidates.
- Facilitating communication to strengthen the party’s organizational structure at the grassroots level.
- Thoroughly considering social equations and the realistic chances of victory for each candidate.
- Sending final recommendations to the Central Election Committee for approval.
This strategic move comes in the wake of the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, where the Congress contested on 70 seats but managed to secure only 19. This time, the party’s clear strategy is to focus intensely on identifying and contesting only those seats where it has a strong probability of winning, aiming for a more impactful performance in the upcoming elections.
