2,096 candidates in Rajasthan polls

A total of 2,096 candidates will fight it out in Rajasthan in the Dec 1 assembly election for 199 of the 200 seats, an official said Sunday.

Polling has been cancelled in one constituency following the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate.

The main contest is between the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which have fielded candidates in all constituencies.

The newly-formed National People's Party (NPP) has fielded 150 candidates, while the BSP is contesting in just over 100 constituencies.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is confident of the Congress retaining power.

"I am confident that the Congress, with the kind of work the government has done in the last five years, will return to power with a big majority," Gehlot said.

Vasundhara Raje, former chief minister and state president of the BJP, is equally confident of victory.

However, the newly formed NPP, headed by Kirorilal Meena, hopes to be the kingmaker.

The NPP has fielded some rebels from both the BJP and Congress.

As many as 32 candidates are in the fray in Adarsh Nagar constituency in Jaipur while only three people are contesting in Sujangarh in Churu district, the lowest number anywhere.