Congress declares 12 candiates Delhi municipal byelection; to issue 13 manifestos

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday declared 12 of its candidates for the municipal byelection to be held in May. With the exception of Satpal Sethi (Nawada), the rest are first-timers candidates.

"Satpal Sethi had contested previously from a different seat in 2007 but lost by 100 votes. All the others are first time contestants. In Matiala, we are fielding Sudha Sinha who is the head of an RWA federation," said Ajay Maken, Congress state president. He also said that candidate to the Nanakpura ward will be declared in a day.

The Congress is also coming out with 13 different manifestos based on problems plaguing these 13 wards. They have completed the first phase of thier door-to-door survey, said Maken.

Five of these 12 candidates are in their 30s, with the youngest being 32-year-old Yogita Rathi contesting from Munirka, which is reserved for women this time. The oldest candidate is 54-year-old Mahesh Khari, who will be contesting from Wazirpur.

While the candidates are new to political contests, they aren't new to party work, said Maken.