Bangalore, Mar 20 : The much-awaited first list of Congress candidates for Lok Sabha elections in the State, will in all probability be out only on or after March 23 - after the scheduled "Bharat Nirman rally" of the party in Davanagere.

The Congress is officially launching its poll campaign in the country from Davanagere and the party supremo Sonia Gandhi will be kickstarting it. Besides, almost all party top brass will be taking part in the rally. Around three lakh people are expected to attend it.

According to sources, the party wants to make it a big event to send the right message to electorate not only in Karnataka but across the country. So, it has been decided not to risk announcing the candidates names. Those who are denied tickets may openly express their displeasure before the party leadership, thus spoiling the event. Over and above, the unhappy leaders may not involve themselves in organising the rally, sources pointed.

There are too many aspirants for each of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the State. Some leaders like Ambareesh and Tejeswini Gowda have already expressed their discontent against the high command for neglecting them, while some are planning to quit and join the rival parties if denied tickets.

Though the party lost in the Assembly elections in May last year, it still sees the State as a place where it can make gains. The choice of the State as a launch pad is apparently aimed at showcasing the Congress as a down-but-not-out force.

Congress MLA from Davanagere Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who is making all preparations for the rally, said the party chose Davanagere as the host as it is located right at the Centre of the State. It will be easy for the workers to attend the rally. The party is hiring 2,500 KSRTC buses to ferry people to the venue- Bapuji MBA College grounds. Nearly two lakh chairs will be arranged, besides setting up a mammoth dais to accommodate all prominent leaders.

A camp office will be inaugurated on Thursday in Davangere at 3 pm.