Chennai, Jan 20 (NationPress) The esteemed Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, T.S. Singhdeo, who is at the helm of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) screening committee for the forthcoming Assembly elections, revealed on Tuesday that the party has garnered a remarkable response from hopeful candidates in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, indicating a surge in internal mobilization ahead of the elections.

Speaking to journalists in Chennai, Singhdeo disclosed that Congress has received approximately 5,285 applications from ticket seekers in Tamil Nadu and around 800 applications from Puducherry.

He characterized these figures as a sign of revitalized organizational energy and an increasing interest in contesting under the Congress banner.

Detailing the candidate selection methodology, Singhdeo stated that the AICC's screening committee will present its recommendations to the Central Election Committee of the AICC, factoring in the perspectives of the respective Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Presidents.

He emphasized that the procedure will be consultative and multi-tiered, with feedback flowing from the grassroots level to the national leadership of the party.

"Once the Pradesh election committee is established, it will submit its suggestions to the screening committee. The screening committee will then report to the Central Election Committee," he mentioned.

Highlighting the importance of inclusiveness, Singhdeo noted that Congress has proposed extending the screening process to block and district levels to promote wider participation.

The experienced Congress leader stated that the committee will engage not only with applicants vying for tickets but also with party workers and supporters who wish to endorse other candidates.

"The collaboration of people rallying behind a specific candidate is a positive development for the party's organization," he remarked, stressing that such collective support is viewed favorably.

Regarding speculation about alliances, Singhdeo refrained from commenting on potential electoral arrangements with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that the INDIA bloc will achieve a significant victory in the upcoming Assembly elections.

In the meantime, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee has made a pivotal organizational move by announcing the long-awaited appointments of District Congress Committee (DCC) Presidents for 71 districts as part of the party's 'Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan'.

Singhdeo mentioned that AICC-appointed observers conducted thorough district-level evaluations, interacted with party officials and stakeholders, and provided extensive reports.

These evaluations were followed by individual discussions with party observers and senior Congress members before finalizing the appointments.

He added that this organizational overhaul will fortify the Congress at the grassroots level and prepare it for the upcoming electoral contest.