Punjab Elections 2022 | CM Channi to contest from Chamkaur Sahib, Sidhu from Amritsar East

The Congress on Saturday released its first list of 86 candidates for the February 14 assembly elections in Punjab, fielding Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi from Chamkaur Sahib and state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu from Amritsar East.

The party has also fielded Punjab deputy chief ministers -- Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa from Dera Baba Nanak and Om Prakash Soni from Amritsar Central, the seats they already represent.

Controversial Punjabi singer Sidhu Mussewala, who joined the Congress sometime ago will contest from Mansa and actor Sonu Sood's sister Malvika from Moga.

Party's Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Singh Bajwa will contest from Qadian assembly seat in Gurdaspur, which is represented by Bajwa's brother Fatehjang Singh Bajwa.

The list was released after the party's central election committee chaired by Sonia Gandhi cleared the names in its meeting held on Thursday.

The party has also adopted 'one family, one ticket' formula while distributing the tickets.

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Former PCC president and campaign committee chief Sunil Jakhar will not contest the assembly polls and his nephew Sandeep will contest the Abohar assembly seat instead.

The first list has as many as nine women candidates, representing around 10 per cent so far.