Leela Maderna, Mamta Sharma given Congress tickets for Rajasthan polls

NEW DELHI: Leela Maderna, wife of former Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna, who is in jail in connection with the Bhanwari Devi murder case, and National Commission for Women chief Mamta Sharma, figure on the third list of 71 candidates released tonight by AICC for the Rajasthan Assembly polls.

The list also includes the names PCC chief Chandrabhan, AICC secretary Sanjay Bapna and some senior ministers, including Bina Kak and Hemanram Choudhary.

Former minister Ramlal Jat, who was involved in a controversy, too, was given a party ticket.

Meenakshi Chandrawat has been fielded from Jhalarpatan to contest against BJP's chief ministerial candidate, Vasundhara Raje.

With today's list, Congress has announced candidates for 176 of the total 200 Assembly seats in Rajasthan.

The first list containing the names of 63 candidates had granted poll tickets to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and some of his Cabinet colleagues, including Shanti Dhariwal.

The second list of 42 candidates was announced on November 6 and included the names of Danish Abrar, son of former Union Minister the late Abrar Ahmed, PCC spokesman Archana Sharma, PCC General Secretary Jagdish Chand Jangir and former Minister Bhanwarlal Sharma.

Congress is looking to retain power in Rajasthan with the state expected to witness a keen electoral contest as BJP prepares to mount a strong challenge against the Gehlot government. Congress had in 2008 wrested power from BJP in the state.