Odisha Congress likely to declare candidates by Oct 5

Bhubaneswar: Amid rumours that two MLAs may leave the party, the Congress party in Odisha is likely to announce its first list of candidates for the ensuing Assembly polls by October 5.

Odisha Pradesh Election Committee (OPEC) will meet on Monday to finalise candidates for at least 50 Assembly constituencies for elections next year, said party sources.

Sources said all sitting MLAs will be renominated as candidates from their constituencies for the 2019 elections.

The screening committee of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) will scrutinize the approved list of 50 candidates before the party makes the announcement.

Meanwhile, the rumour mill has it that at least two MLAs including a senior functionary of the party and another from Koraput will join the ruling BJD soon.