NEW DELHI, Dec 9 � The AICC is likely to finalise its Rajya Sabha candidate over the weekend, as lobbying by aspirants has reached a fever pitch.
PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita and AICC general secretary in-charge, Digvijay Singh held discussions, as the party confirmed having received over 50 applications. However, it is Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who is likely to play a crucial role in finalising the candidate, said AICC sources.
Gogoi, who was expected to arrive in the capital this evening, postponed his trip though Digvijay Singh called him over phone.
The AICC general secretary, Bhubaneswar Kalita and Union Minister of State for DoNER Paban Singh Ghatowar held a couple of rounds of discussion at the Parliament house this afternoon.
Sources said a key decision on whether to allow the seat to remain with the tea community has to be first taken before a candidate is finalised. The Congress is unable to decide in the face of absence of the Chief Minister and massive campaign mounted by the church leaders.
A delegation of clergymen yesterday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to press for nomination of a candidate from the community. Prominent candidates from the tea community and the church who have emerged included Silvius Condpan�s wife and brother, besides Bhagirath Karan.
When asked, Bhubaneswar Kalita said he has forwarded all the applications the party has received so far to the High Command.
Some of the prominent faces who are in the race included Dwijendranath Sarma, Bharat Narah, Santosh Mohan Deb, Karnendu Bhattacharjee, Bishnu Prasad, Kirip Chaliha, Chittaranjan Patowary, Dr Haren Das, Madhab Rajbongshi among others.
