After deliberations that spread over three days amid posturing and threats by its leaders, the State unit of the Congress party finally declared names of some of the candidates for some posts of district Panchayat presidents and block Pramukhs.

On Friday evening, the party declared the names of its candidates for posts of five district Panchayat presidents and four block Pramukhs.

The party fielded Rajni Bhandari, the wife of former cabinet minister Rajendra Singh Bhandari as its candidate for Chamoli district Panchayat president.

In Bageshwar, Vandana Ethani would be the party candidate for district Panchayat president while in Almora, Uma Singh Bisht, the wife of former MLA, Madan Bisht was declared as official candidate of the party.

In Rudraprayag, the party backed Jyoti as its candidate for the post of district Panchayat president and in Pauri district Panchayat, Kailash would be the official candidate of the party.

Vice president of State unit of Congress party Surya Kant Dhasmana said that the names of these candidates were selected by the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Pritam Singh after consulting with the party leaders.

He said the PCC President has selected Arti Tamta as congress candidate for Bageshwar block.

In Kapkote block, Arjun Bhatt would be the candidate of party for the post of Block Pramukh while in Kirtinagar block the party has fielded Pratap Singh Bhandari.

In Pratapnagar Block, Pradeep Chand Ramola would be the official candidate of Congress. Dhasmana said the PCC president had sent State General Secretary, Vijay Saraswat and former State Minister Ajay Singh as observer for Almora and based on their report the party has selected its candidate.

The elections for the coveted posts of President District Panchayats in all the districts of the state barring Haridwar would be held on November 7.

Similarly, the voting for the posts of the Block Pramukh, senior deputy Pramukhs and junior deputy Pramukhs would be held on November 6.

The candidates for these posts would file their nomination papers on Saturday (November 2) between 11 am to 3 pm. The scrutiny of the nomination papers would be done on the same day.  The candidates can withdraw their nomination papers between 11 am to 3 pm on November 4.