Maharashtra polls: Congress begins exercise to finalise candidates

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has begun the process of finalising its candidates in 174 Assembly constituencies which it contested in 2009.

Party sources said the Congress Screening Committee which met yesterday discussed 50 constituencies and the aspirants who had been interviewed.

"Today the screening committee is expected to complete the exercise for remaining seats. The party leaders may meet AICC President Sonia Gandhi in Delhi tomorrow," sources said.

The screening committee meeting was attended by Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, state Congress chief Manikrao Thakre, AICC General Secretary Mohan Prakash, former Chief Ministers Sushilkumar Shinde, Ashok Chavan and Narayan Rane.