Congress party on Saturday released its first list of 54 candidates for Delhi assembly elections. The party has also fielded Adarsh Shastri, former AAP MLA, from the Dwarka Assembly constituency.

Former AAP leader Alka Lamba, who switched over to the Congress, has been fielded from Chandni Chowk constituency, while election campaign committee chairman Kirti Azad’s wife Poonam Azad will contest from Sangam Vihar.

Besides, Arvinder Singh Lovely, who lost the fight for the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat last year to the BJP’s Gautam Gambhir, will contest the Delhi Assembly election 2020 from the Gandhi Nagar seat.

The Congress has not decided its candidate against Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi seat. The party has fielded Lakshman Rawat against Deputy CM Manish Sisodia from Patparganj.

Former Urban Development Minister and four-time MLA Ashok Walia will contest from Krishna Nagar against the AAP’s SK Bagga.

A further 12 candidates are expected to be announced soon, with the remaining four seats given to alliance partner Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Delhi Congress president Subhash Chopra said, “This is the best list that the party has announced. It has a mix of experience and youth. The second list is expected later tonight or tomorrow.”

Chopra’s daughter Shivani got a ticket from Kalkaji where the AAP has fielded its heavyweight Atishi.
Congress is seeking to revive its fortunes in Delhi this time. It won just eight seats in 2013 and drew a blank in the 2015 Delhi Assembly polls.
Polling for Delhi elections is scheduled to take place on 8 February. Counting for Delhi will take place on 11 February.

AAP has already announced candidates on all the 70 assembly constituencies and BJP has announced candidates for 57 seats.