Congress announces second list of 16 candidates for Madhya Pradesh polls
Ajay Singh’s loyalist Mahendra Sigh Chauhan has been chosen to represent the party from Narela seat in Bhopal
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Congress on Sunday announced its second list of 16 candidates for elections to the 230-member state assembly, slated for November 28.
Since Saturday, the party has declared names of 171 candidates. Of the 16, four candidates are for reserved seats.
As was being speculated, the party’s chief whip and five-time MLA, Ramniwas Rawat, has been given ticket from Vijaypur, and Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh’s loyalist Mahendra Sigh Chauhan has been chosen to represent the party from Narela seat in Bhopal. The seat is currently being held by CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s minister Vishwas Sarang, who enjoys deep ground connect with voters in the constituency.
The names of Congress state unit chief Kamal Nath and poll campaign committee in-charge Jyotiradtiya Scindia are not on the list. They are being seen as frontrunners for the Chief Minister’s post if the party wins.
The first list of 155 names was released late on Saturday night and it includes that of 21 women and 24 fresh faces. The party has struck a fine balance between supporters of Scindia and former chief minister Digvijay Singh.
The party renominated 46 MLAs. Former chief minister Digvijay Singh’s son Jaivardhan, a sitting MLA, brother Lakshman Singh and nephew Priyavrat Singh have been given tickets.
