The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sunday announced it would field 12 candidates for the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh.
The list of the candidates comprised Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rebel and former speaker Radha Raman Shastri, who recently joined the party.
He is contesting from Shimla (urban) seat.
"This time the NCP has put a small number of candidates and will open an account," said party state president Anirudh Sharma.
"People are tired of the Congress and the BJP and are looking for an alternative. Other parties will play a major role in government formations," Shastri told reporters here.
This is for the first time the Sharad Pawar-led NCP has fielded candidates in the state.
The elections to the 68-member assembly will be held Nov 4 and the results will be declared Dec 20.
Published 14 October 2012, 12:32 IST