Chhattisgarh assembly election: Cong fields Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla against Raman Singh

Days after Election Commission announced the dates for forthcoming assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, the Congress has fielded former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla from Rajnandgaon Assembly constituency in Chhattisgarh against Chief Minister Raman Singh. The same was made public after Congress released its second list for the first phase of the assembly election in the state and declared its candidates for the remaining six constituencies. It had earlier declared candidates for 12 seats.

The first phase of the assembly election will be held on November 12 and the last date for filing of nominations is October 23. The party has also fielded Channi Sahu from Khujji seat and Indra Shah Mandavi from Mohla-Manpur (ST) seat.

In the latest list, the party has renominated two sitting MLAs while denied ticket to as many others. Two legislators Daleshwar Sahu from Dongargaon seat and Girwar Janghel from Khairagarh have been retained.

The sitting MLAs from Khujji and Mohla-Manpur seats Bholaram Sahu and Tejkunwar Gowardhan Netam respectively have been denied tickets. The new faces who have been fielded are Channi Sahu (Khujji), Bhuneshwar Singh Baghel (Dongargarh- SC) and Indra Shah Mandavi (Mohla-Manpur- ST).

The Congress has declared candidates for all 18 seats that will go to polls in the first phase. The candidates for remaining 72 seats that will go to polls in the second phase are yet to be declared. Congress is out of power in Chhattisgarh for the last 15.

The BJP has so far announced candidates for 78 seats including 18 going to the polls in the first phase.