Rajkot, April 2 (NationPress) The Gujarat Congress is set to unveil its candidates for the upcoming local self-government elections starting April 5, with over 50 percent of the nominations dedicated to the youth, as stated by the state party president Amit Chavda during a press briefing in Rajkot.

Chavda mentioned that the candidate selection process is approaching its conclusion after thorough discussions across various districts.

"Beginning April 5, candidate lists will be disclosed in phases. Initially, candidates for municipal corporations will be announced, followed by staggered declarations for nearly 10,000 seats throughout Gujarat," he remarked.

He further elaborated that district and city-level election committees have finalized their selections, with the state leadership scheduled to convene on April 4 for final approvals, accompanied by party in-charges.

"The Congress prioritizes the District Election Committees in choosing candidates, while the state committee will provide the final endorsement," he added.

Chavda emphasized that youth representation is a vital aspect of their strategy.

"Over 50 percent of the seats will be allocated to young candidates," he stated, noting that preference will also be given to those who advocate for societal issues, champion people’s rights, and aim to uphold 'Panchayati Raj' and local self-governance structures.

Chavda highlighted that the party has been gearing up for the elections for an extended period, referencing outreach efforts such as the ‘Kisan Aakrosh Yatra’ in Saurashtra and the subsequent ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’ across Gujarat.

“These initiatives facilitated direct engagement with the public,” he asserted.

Alleging rampant corruption in local bodies under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he stated, “BJP leaders have engaged in blatant corruption in local self-governance institutions throughout Gujarat. Public funds are being misappropriated, and corruption is pervasive.”

He also mentioned that citizens from various regions and demographics are inclined towards change.

The Congress leader noted that observers have traversed all districts in Saurashtra at the taluka level to connect with party members and evaluate potential candidates.

“Coordination efforts have been executed at all levels,” he remarked.

Additionally, he mentioned that legal teams have been mobilized in every district to tackle potential challenges during the election phase.

“There are frequent attempts to pressure candidates, have nomination forms rejected or withdrawn, and intimidate them. This time, the Congress is fully equipped to counter all such tactics decisively,” he noted, adding that legal frameworks are in place to address any irregularities promptly.

Chavda reiterated that the party will participate in the elections with complete vigor.