Congress names 26 candidates from four key states

The Congress on Friday named 26 candidates from Punjab, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Bihar. Among the candidates named on Friday were former state unit chief Manas Bhunia and senior leader Abdul Mannan.

The Congress on Friday named 26 candidates from Punjab, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Bihar.

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In West Bengal, the Congress has so far declared candidates for 39 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats.

Among the candidates named on Friday were former state unit chief Manas Bhunia and senior leader Abdul Mannan who had refused to contest but eventually relented after the directive from Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Sitting Gopalganj MP from JD (U) Purnmasi Ram, whose candidature was announced by Congress from the seat, was shifted to adjoining Valmikinagar bringing Doctor Jyoti in his place at Gopalganj.

In Maharashtra, the party has also fielded minister for social justice, Shivajirao Moghe from Yavatmal-Washim in Maharashtra. A tribal from Kelapur in Yavatmal district, Moghe nominated in face of a demand from the state Congress president Manikrao Thakre to select his son for the Lok Sabha seat.