New Delhi, Oct 30: Brushing aside talk of any alliance with the BSP, Congress is expected to announce today its candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. An indication to this effect was given by party general secretary Ambika Soni, who said the Central Election Committee of the party has cleared 190 candidates in the state having a total of 230 seats.

Talking to reporters, after an eight-hour long meeting of the CEC presided by party chief Sonia Gandhi, Soni said a decision on the remaining 40 seats has been left to the party`s screening committee for the state.

This appears to have been done following pulls and pressures among various leaders in the state who wanted tickets for their nominees.
Asked whether any alliance or seat adjustments were planned with the BSP in the state, she said that there was "no discussion" on the issue at the meeting. She said the party was likely to leave one seat for the RPI as it had done in the past.

Bureau Report