BJP names 131 candidates in Rajasthan

New Delhi, Nov 12 :  The BJP on Monday released its first list of 131 candidates for the December 7 Rajasthan Assembly polls. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will contest from her traditional Jhalrapatan seat.

The names were released after detailed deliberations at a meeting of the party's Central Election Committee that decided to field 85 outgoing MLAs, including some of heavyweights and Raje's cabinet ministers.

Of the 131 candidates announced for 200 seats, 25 are first timers. The party has given tickets to 12 women candidates.

It has fielded Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria from Udaipur, Urban Development and Housing Minister Srichand Kripalani from Nimbaheda and Agriculture Minister Prabhulal Saini from Anta.

Panchayati Raj and Rural Development and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore will contest from Churu and Social Justice and Welfare Minister Arun Chaturvedi from Civil Lines.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded former state unit chief Ashok Parnami from Adarsh Nagar.

Its MP from Barmer, Colonel Sonaram Patel, will contest from Barmer Assembly constituency.