First list of Delhi NCP candidates after Diwali

The Nationalist Congress Party, which has decided to contest all the 70 seats in the Delhi assembly polls, Friday announced that it would declare its first list of candidates after Diwali, which falls Nov 3.

The second largest constituent of the United Progressive Alliance government at the centre will also release its manifesto for Delhi at that time.

"Though we had planned to come out with a manifesto before Diwali, we have decided to declare the list of the candidates as well as the manifesto after the festival," Delhi NCP chief Kanwar Pratap Singh said at a press conference Friday.

"In 2008, the party had contested in 15 constituencies, but failed to win any seat. Its vote share was a meagre three percent," he said.

Talking to reporters at the party office in Delhi, Singh said the NCP would give tickets to only those who have a "clean image".

Singh said the party has been drawing support from traders in the capital and will contest elections on the issues of water supply and the safety and security of women.

Assembly elections in Delhi are scheduled Dec 4.