Congress finalises list of 30 candidates

New Delhi: The ruling Congress party has finalised the first list of candidates for November 29 Delhi assembly elections containing 30 names.

The list has been forwarded to the central leadership of the party for final approval.

According to sources in the Congress party, the first list contains names of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit who will contest the New Delhi assembly seat and most of her ministerial colleagues.

The screening committee, headed by veteran leader Mohsina Kidwai, will be slated to meet on October 20 to consider nominees for the remaining 40 constituencies.

The first list contains names of leaders whose candidature was considered certain either due to their popularity or track record, the second list may see some major surprises.

According to indications available the Congress party may drop at least a dozen sitting legislators to negate any possible anti-incumbency factor since voters in many constituencies are unhappy with the sitting party legislators.

Unlike the Congress party, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing problems in finalising its list of candidates.

BJP's old ally Shiromani Akali Dal has put the party in a dilemma by demanding 15 seats and insisting that it would prefer contesting the upcoming polls on its own symbol.