Bhubaneswar: With the general elections in the offing, people can apply online to contest the polls from the Congress party, informed Odisha Congress in-charge Ajoy Kumar today.

"The youth who aspire to contest the elections can apply online," he told reporters after a high-level party meeting at the State Guest House in Bhubaneswar.

A day after the All India Congress Committee (AICC) announced screening committees for recommending party candidates for the forthcoming elections, the Odisha Congress has started the process for distribution of tickets.

"This is just the trailer; the film is yet to be released. The link for applying online will be shared on all social media platforms shortly," Ajoy Kumar said.

On online application process for the party tickets, he said that everything will be conducted with transparency.

"The process will be made in a transparent manner. Anybody who aspire to contest the elections from Congress party can apply online. A survey team will be engaged to check the background of the applicants. The report to be sent to the Pradesh Election Committee (PEC) that will forward the report with all data to the screening committee after scrutiny. The tickets will be given to the deserving candidates following the recommendation of the panel," he said ruling out possibility of party preference or lobby in the selection process.

"Anyone can apply for the party tickets. There is no restriction or criteria for the application. If he/she is popular in his/her constituency, will get the ticket," he cleared.

Worth mentioning, the Congress on Friday announced five screening committees that will recommend candidates for the elections. Madhusudhan Mistry has been appointed as the head of Cluster-II states that include Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Suraj Hegde and Shafi Parambil will be members of the Cluster-II Screening Committee.