Congress declares list of 152 candidates for Rajasthan

Breaking the suspense, the Congress party's central election committee (CEC), led by party president Rahul Gandhi, has released its first list of 152 candidates for upcoming Rajasthan Assembly elections.

The list was released at midnight of November 16 after the three days of discussions and deliberations held in New Delhi. The last day of filing the nomination papers on November 19.

The list features a mix of the senior Congress leaders and a few fresh faces.

While the former chief minister Ashok Gehlot will be contesting from the Sardarpura constituency, Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot is contesting from Tonk. The leader of Opposition in the Assembly Rameshwar Dudi is going to contest from the Nokha and senior leaders C P Joshi is facing the poll heat from his home turf Nathdwara.

The list comes a day after the party decided to field Gehlot and Pilot, chief ministers aspirants. Pilot who is heading the Rajasthan Congress will be contesting assembly polls for the first time.

The list has around 20 women, youth and veterans like Girija Devi and Shanti Dhariwal. Interestingly, first-time candidate Divya Maderna, daughter of Mahipal Maderna will also be contesting from the Osian seat. Divya's father Mahipal Maderna, who was a Jat leader is in the jail in connection with Bhanwari Devi case.

In a surprise move, MLA Habibur Rahman, who joined Congress a day back, gets ticket from Nagaur constituency. Similarly, the sitting MP from Dausa and former DGP Harish Meena was fielded from Deoli- Uniara. Both Rahman and Meena joined Congress two days ago after they were denied tickets by the BJP.

Moreover, Congress's sitting MP from Ajmer Raghu Sharma who won the by-elections earlier this year will contest from Kekri Constituency in Ajmer district.

In the first list, around seven Muslim candidates have been fielded by Congress party. In contrary, there is no Muslim candidate in BJP's two lists declared in last three days.

Moreover, Olympian and discus thrower Krishna Poonia will be contesting from Sadulpur constituency. Punia joined Congress party in 2012 and was defeated in 2013 Assembly polls from the same constituency.

So far BJP has declared 162 out of 200 assembly seats. Rajasthan will go to polls on December 7 and December 11.