![[Representative image] Congress supporters wave a party flag | Reuters](https://img.theweek.in/content/dam/week/news/india/images/2019/10/3/congress-rally-reuters.jpg "[Representative image] Congress supporters wave a party flag | Reuters")
The state unit of the Congress has called for those wanting to contest the upcoming Vidhan Sabha polls to submit their applications with a deposit of Rs 11, 000.
A day after Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrapped up her visit to the state, a circular issued by the UP Congress chief asked prospective candidates to submit their applications by September 25.
The amount has to be deposited via demand draft, pay order or RTGS as per the note issued by Ajay Kumar Lallu on Tuesday.
The circular does not specify whether those aspirants whose candidature gets turned down will receive a refund of the amount.
With the circular comes a four-page form in which the particulars of the candidate need to be filled in. These include the caste and sub caste details.
The details asked for include particulars of past elections contested if any at the panchayat, Vidhan Sabha, Lok Sabha or any other level. It also asks for details of student politics.
There is a separate section for social media presence. It asks for handles used on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube. The Indian born microblogging site Koo is not included in the list.
The form also has a declaration that the aspirant will work diligently to secure the victory of whichever person is chosen as the party’s candidate.
It also has three lines to fill in details of social activities undertaken and two lines each for criminal cases and for punishment undergone in such cases.
Copies of the notice have been marked to Vadra, to those in-charge of the state election and to the office bearers of the state Congress committee among others. The circular comes into effect immediately.
It is significant that the party has called for prospective candidates to submit their applications at such an early stage when elections are not due in the state till February and March of 2022. Delayed candidate selection and confusion over naming of candidates have been one of the banes that the party has suffered in the state.
