Karnataka Congress screening committee meeting underway

BENGALURU: Karnataka Congress' screening meeting is currently underway at Bengaluru. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other Congress leaders are attending the meeting. 

The meeting, being held ahead of Karnataka assembly polls which is expected to be held in May, will take into account the performance of Congress candidates and decide on party tickets.

According to reports, several sitting MLAs may not be given tickets and fresh faces would be roped in.

Earlier this month, the party held a brainstorming session, screening applications of prospective candidates for election. Party high command examined over 1,500 applications received for 224 assembly constituencies. 

Monday's meeting is a follow-up of the previous session, which will discuss the status of sitting MLAs and the chances of winning a seat. 

With tough opposition from BJP, Congress is stressing on winnability of candidates. 

Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government has accepted the recommendation to recognise the Lingayat as a separate religion, a move seen as aimed towards denting BJP's vote bank.