Guwahati, Feb 26 (NationPress) The Assam Congress is facing challenges in its candidate selection process for the forthcoming Assembly elections, prompting the party to initiate a new survey across nearly 30 constituencies due to reported inconsistencies in the initial candidate roster, according to party insiders on Thursday.

As per sources, the decision to reassess candidates was taken after Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra intervened, instructing a professional agency based in Delhi to carry out a fresh, ground-level evaluation.

This decision comes at a crucial moment when the Congress was on the verge of finalizing its preliminary candidate list.

The original panel for these 30 Assembly constituencies was compiled by the Congress' state-level screening committee, following discussions with district units, senior leaders, and observers.

This panel was reportedly submitted to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) for validation, with several seats considered to be nearly finalized.

However, concerns regarding candidates' winnability, organizational acceptance, and local feedback raised questions about several individuals on the shortlist.

Sources indicated that these worries led Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to request a new, impartial survey to reassess the political landscape before granting final approval.

"The survey aims to gauge voter sentiment, community dynamics, anti-incumbency issues, and the overall acceptability of potential candidates," a senior party official stated, emphasizing that this revised assessment is expected to significantly influence the final candidate list.

This development has caused anxiety within certain factions of the state Congress, particularly among hopeful candidates who felt their positions were nearly secure.

Simultaneously, Congress leaders noted that this initiative illustrates the high command's commitment to fielding strong and credible candidates.

With the Assam elections on the horizon, the Congress is under pressure to make accurate candidate selections, especially in constituencies where internal divisions and tight races could sway results.

The party is also considering alliances and seat-sharing agreements, complicating the selection process further.

Sources suggest that the findings from the new survey will likely be presented to the AICC within the upcoming days, after which the screening committee may revisit and amend its recommendations.

While the Congress leadership has yet to release an official statement regarding this matter, insiders indicate that the final candidate list will only be unveiled after a comprehensive review of the new survey results, even if this delays the announcement.