The ‘elective merit’ and ‘track record’ of the candidate will be the sole criterion in selecting the candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat from the Union Territory, said All India Congress Committee-in charge for UT, Sanjay Dutt, here on Tuesday.
After chairing a meeting of various election-related committees formed by the Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr. Dutt said the Congress candidate for UT will be finalised by the end of this week.
“We have various options. Winnability is the sole factor. Obviously we will look into the elective merit and and track record of the candidate. My objective is to win the seat in Pondy,” he said.
In the last six months, the party had developed its organisational structure. The booth-level committees have been strengthened, he said.
Sources in Congress said the PCC was reworking its electoral strategy after the principal Opposition party All India N R Congress formed an alliance with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Pattali Makkal Katchi and Bharatiya Janata Party.
Speaker V. Vaithilingam was the front runner for the seat till a few days ago. After the Opposition alliance was formed, the name of former PCC chief A. V. Subramanian is also considered, the source said.
While Mr. Vaithilingam has a proven track record as an administrator, Mr. Subramanian is a former legislator and has the backing of a particular community.