Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has received an overwhelming response, with over 2,500 aspirants applying online for party tickets across 147 constituencies. OPCC President Sarat Pattanayak disclosed this information on Saturday, highlighting the party’s efforts to promote transparency in ticket distribution.
The initiative, launched on February 2 through a dedicated portal, allowed prospective candidates to submit their applications online, detailing their activities in their respective constituencies and outlining their competitive advantages over potential rivals. This move aimed to democratize the ticket allocation process and provide equal opportunities for all aspirants to vie for Congress tickets.
Pattanayak emphasized the diverse backgrounds of the applicants, noting that among the applicants were doctors, retired IAS officers, and individuals from various professions. He further revealed that approximately 500 aspirants had applied for the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, indicating a broad interest in contesting under the Congress banner.
To ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the applications, both Pattanayak and Congress’ Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar will personally engage with the aspirants, conducting thorough discussions on their respective applications for each constituency. Additionally, aspirants will be assigned a seven-day task, the results of which will be evaluated by the Congress team, contributing to the assessment process.
Highlighting the party’s commitment to fielding strong candidates, Pattanayak emphasized the importance of prioritizing candidates’ winnability to fulfill the ‘9 to 90 mission,’ indicating the party’s ambitious electoral goals. He further noted that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) had established five screening committees tasked with recommending candidates for the upcoming elections, underscoring the party’s organizational preparedness and strategic approach to the electoral process.
As the deadline for ticket applications approaches, the OPCC remains focused on conducting a thorough review of all submissions, with the overarching goal of fielding a competitive slate of candidates poised to represent the interests of the people of Odisha.
