Guj Congress to declare Assembly poll candidates by year end

Gujarat Congress in-charge Gurudas Kamat today said the party will announce list of candidates for 2017 state Assembly elections by this year end.
"Unlike in the past, when we declared the final list of candidates at the last moment, we will announce the names by December end (for the forthcoming polls), so that candidates get enough time to prepare," Kamat told reporters after the two-day state executive committee meeting ended here.
"Aspiring candidates are required to attach consent letter of at least 15 persons from each booth in support of their candidature along with their application. It needs to be submitted by the end of August to GPCC. Party high command will announce the final list of candidates by the end of December," the senior Congress leader said.

Kamat claimed that the entry of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will not make any difference to Congress's poll prospects.
"I don't think that AAP's announcement to contest polls will make any difference to Congress" he said.
AAP National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had visited Gujarat and announced to contest all 182 seats.

According to Kamat, Gujarat Congress will take up the issue of development, price-rise and corruption "in a big way" during its poll campaign.
"Development will be our key issue along with corruption and price rise. BJP government here only made fake promises of development. BJP is only doing drama for the last 10 years in the name of Vibrant Gujarat, which has failed to attract new investment or create employment," Kamat claimed.

"During the UPA regime, when prices of dal (pulses) went up to Rs 65, (Narendra) Modi did a huge drama. Now, BJP is silent when prices touched Rs 200. Congress will also take up the issue of corruption, which is rampant in this BJP government," he said.
The leader also raked up the issue of former BJP MLA Yatin Oza's claims that BJP chief Amit Shah had struck a secret deal with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi ahead of the Bihar polls last year.
"Oza has proved that BJP used Owaisi to polarise votes in Bihar polls. Why is Amit Shah silent now? He must come out with an explanation," said Kamat.