Raj Babbar, Anand Sharma in Congress' new list of candidates
The party has also fielded Satpal Raizada from Himachal's Hamirpur constituency against Union minister Anurag Thakur
The Congress on Tuesday (April 30) announced the candidature of actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar from Haryana’s Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency.
Babbar was previously elected to the Lok Sabha from Firozabad and Fatehpur Sikri constituencies of UP. Senior party leader from the now neutralised G-23 faction, 71-year-old Anand Sharma will contest his first Lok Sabha election from Himachal Pradesh's Kangra constituency. The party has also fielded Satpal Raizada from Himachal's Hamirpur constituency against Union minister and incumbent BJP MP Anurag Thakur. Bhushan Patil has been pitted against Union minister Piyush Goyal from Mumbai North in Maharashtra.
Meanwhile, announcement on candidates for Amethi and Raebareli constituencies has been deferred till tomorrow as pressure is mounting on the high command to field Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi from these traditional Gandhi family seats. Party sources say while Rahul has not given any indication about contesting from Amethi, Priyanka wants to stay out of the electoral fray and focus on campaigning for the party and acting as a troubleshooter.