New Delhi: Union minister Namo Narain Meena and Punjab CLP leader Sunil Kumar Jakhar figure in the sixth list of the Congress candidates . However, the party has not announced its candidate against BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi from Varanasi and its nominee for Nanded, allowing the guessing game to continue on whether it would field former CM Ashok Chavan or his wife Amita from the Maharashtra seat.
The Congress is yet to shortlist its candidates for the LS and the Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana areas, besides Uttarakhand.
The party on Monday announced names of 16 candidates from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
With this, the total number of candidates has gone up to over 400. Mr Meena, the minister of state for finance, will contest from Dausa-ST seat in Rajasthan in place of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur seat from where former cricketer Azaruddin will contest.
Meanwhile, the Congress is divided on whether to field a local or a high-profile candidate against Mr Modi from Varanasi. A section of the Congress feels that former MP Rajesh Mishra should be considered, but others say that the party should have a veteran like N.D. Tiwari.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh said on Monday that he is ready to contest Lok Sabha election from Varanasi against Narendra Modi, if the party nominates him. He also said that “Har Har Modi” will not reverberate in Varanasi since the Shankaracharya has snubbed BJP for using it.
