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Journalism of Courage
SUBHASH NAGAR, AUG 9: The leaders belonging to the secret official panel are forging ahead in the first round of counting in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) elections held here tonight, according to party sources.
Party vice president Jitendra Prasada, Tariq Anwar, Madhavrao Scindia are leading the race followed by Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy, H Hanumanthappa, R K Dhawan and Pranab Mukherjee – all belonging to the panel.
The non panelists who are making the grade in the first 45 minutes of counting are Arjun Singh, Sharad Pawar, Rajesh Pilot, R Prabhu and Gulam Nabi Azad.
The counting of votes which started at around 10 pm is expected to continue till tomorrow.
Party sources said 13 candidates, including former union ministers B Shankaranand, G Venkatswamy, V Chandrasekara Murthy and Kerala Pradesh Congres President Vyalar Ravi, withdrew their candidatures.
Some of the those who withdrew their nominations said as a secret official panel comprising eight candidates was in circulation, there was no point in remaining in the fray. The Tirupathi pattern of a secret panel drawing leaders from all groups was being repeated here, they said.
