Congress announces second list of candidates for UP

Former union ministers Salim Sherwani and Sompal Shastri figure in the second list of 15 candidates announced by the Congress for Uttar Pradesh on Saturday night.

While Sherwani, who resigned from the Samajwadi Party and joined Congress early this week, has been nominated from Badaun, a seat being held by him for the past four terms. Shastri will take on RLD supremo Ajit Singh from Baghpat.

Shastri, who once defeated Singh in his pocketborough some time back, was in BJP till recently. Former union minister Ramlal Rahi, who also returned to Congress this week has been fielded from Sitapur.

Ramesh Chandra Tomar, who resigned from BJP after being denied renomination from Ghaziabad, has been made the candidate from neighbouring Gautam Buddha Nagar.    Incidentally, BJP chief Rajnath Singh is contesting from Ghaziabad.

With this, Congress has so far announced 39 candidates from UP having the largest number of 80 constituencies. From Pilibhit, the party has fielded former MLA V M
Singh, a known detractor of Maneka Gandhi, to take on Varun Gandhi.