42 sitting Congress legislators in Delhi poll shortlist

Barring one, all 42 sitting Congress legislators of Delhi assembly find their names figuring on the shortlist of candidates for party tickets for the Dec 4 polls.

The list of 42 has been sent by the 27-member Delhi Congress Election Committee to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) screening committee. The AICC will prepare the final list and send it to the Congress central election committee headed by party chief Sonia Gandhi.

Delhi has 70 assembly constituencies.

Besides the 42 names, those Congress workers who want to be in the fray for party tickets have to send their applications separately to the party poll panel, said party sources. The panel will decide on the final names to be sent to the AICC screening committee, a source added.

The Congress Election Committee, which met Monday for the third time, also authorized Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and state party chief J.P. Agarwal to draw up a shortlist of candidates for the remaining 28 seats. The panel left out Rajouri Garden legislator A. Dayanand Chandila from the 42 names.

"The names of all the 42 legislators were cleared Monday. The panel has sought explanation from Rajouri Garden MLA (member of legislative assembly) Chandila since he has some criminal charges against him," said a party source.

The decision to send the names of the 42 sitting lawmakers is indicative of Dikshit's say in the selection procedure as she is understood not to be keen on other contenders for the seats.

Agarwal was reportedly opposed to her decision.

"Objections were also raised against the names of eight MLAs - including two cabinet ministers-- being cleared," said a party insider.

It was also decided that those candidates who have "serious" criminal charges against them would not be given party tickets, while those who have lost two consecutive elections will also not get tickets, the source added.