Congress releases first list of candidates for Rajasthan polls

The Congress Saturday released the first list of its 63 candidates who will contest the Dec 1 polls for the 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan, a party source here said.

The list features names of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot who will fight from his usual constituency of Saradarpura in Jodhpur. Krishna Poonia, the discus throw player and Arjun Award winner who joined the Congress few days back, will be the party's candidate from Sadulpur, the source told IANS.

The list also features names of senior Congress leader B.D. Kalla from Bikaner west, and some of the present ministers in Gehlot government. Jitendra Singh will contest from Khetri, Brijendra Ola from Jhunjhunu, Rajendsra Singh Guda from Udaipur Vati, Rajendra Pareek from Sikar and Assembly Speaker Deependra Singh Shekhawat from Sri Madhopur.

A.A. Khan, health minister in the Gehlot government, is party's candidate from Tijara, Urban Development and Housing Department Minister Shanti Dhariwal from Kota east, PWD Minister Bharat Singh Kundanpur from Sangod and Education Minister B.K. Sharma from Hawa Mahal constituency in Jaipur, the source said.

The party has also repeated its candidates like Pratap Singh Kachriawas from Civil Lines in Jaipur, Narain Singh from Dataramgarh, Raghu Sharama from Kekri, Mewaram Jain from Barmer, Col. Sonaram from Baytu among others.