CEC meets at Sonia's residence

The previous meeting was held on October 5, after which the first list of 21 candidates was announced on October 7, which triggered a lot of criticism from within the party. According to sources, the top leadership has given a clear message to the leaders that nothing unfair will be tolerated as many state leaders have complained that candidate selection was not fair.

New Delhi: The central election committee (CEC) of the Congress is meeting here at the residence of interim party chief Sonia Gandhi to finalise candidates for the first phase of Bihar Assembly polls.

The meeting is the second of the committee to decide candidates for the second and third phase of Bihar polls.

The previous meeting was held on October 5, after which the first list of 21 candidates was announced on October 7, which triggered a lot of criticism from within the party. According to sources, the top leadership has given a clear message to the leaders that nothing unfair will be tolerated as many state leaders have complained that candidate selection was not fair.

Another problem the party facing is the seat-sharing deal that has been finalised with its grand alliance partner RJD. Congress will be fielding its candidates on 70 seats as part of the seat-sharing deal announced by the opposition grand alliance (mahagathbandhan).

Some of the leaders have expressed their unhappiness over the deal as they say RJD has offered weak seats to the Congress Party where the fight is tough and most of the seats are urban or semi-urban seats.

CEC is to discuss the names of candidates for the rest of the 49 seats.