BENGALURU: A day after the BJP announced its first list of 72 candidates, the Congress screening committee on Monday cleared the names of ‘undisputed’ candidates for 130 constituencies for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections.

“Names of candidates, including the sitting 122 legislators, who have no challengers in their constituencies have been cleared. The committee charted up undisputed candidates in the first round of screening,” said a party source to TNIE.

The committee considered second-generation ticket aspirants next. The two-day screening committee meeting will be followed by the Central Election Committee meet on Tuesday after which the Congress will release its candidate list for all 224 constituencies.

The screening committee headed by senior party leader Madhusudan Mistry met in New Delhi. The final draft of candidates for all 224 constituencies will be prepared by the committee that includes MPs Tamradhwaj Sahu and Gaurav Gogoi. The draft will be sent for final approval to the Central Election Committee headed by party president Rahul Gandhi.

 

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Ranchi (PTI): The body of a migrant worker from Jharkhand’s Giridih district killed in Saudi Arabia in October last year has arrived at Ranchi Airport, but his family refused to accept it over pending compensation, officials said.

Shikha Lakra, team leader of the state migrant control cell, told PTI that, before taking the body of Vijay Kumar Mahato, the family is demanding compensation from the private company where he used to work in the Arab country.

Mahato was killed in an alleged crossfire between the police and criminals.

“Since it was a bullet injury case, the matter is before a court in Jeddah. The final compensation may depend on the court’s decision,” Lakra said.

“The Indian Embassy informed us about the body’s arrival, and coordination was done with district authorities. Our role is limited to coordination in cases involving overseas employers and foreign jurisdiction,” she added.

Giridih Deputy Commissioner Ram Niwas Yadav said the authorities will try to convince the family to perform the last rites.

“We have already sanctioned Rs 5 lakh under the government scheme for migrant’s deaths abroad. The compensation payment might take some time,” he said.

The body is currently at the mortuary of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi.

The Family members said they will only accept it if the company provides written assurance regarding compensation. “Without that assurance, we will not receive the body,” said Ram Prasad Mahato, the deceased’s brother-in-law.

Mahato, a native of Dudhpaniya village in Madh Gopali panchayat under Dumri block, was employed as a tower line fitter. His family said he was struck by a bullet during a gunfight between local police and an extortion gang and later succumbed to his injuries.

Social activist Sikander Ali said Mahato is survived by his wife, two young sons aged five and three, and elderly parents.