UP polls: NCP releases first list of candidates

Lucknow, Jan 3: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, today released a list of 42 candidates for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

"The list has been released with the permission of national president Sharad Pawar and national general secretary and UP in-charge Tariq Anwar," state president Fazle Masood told reporters here.

"The party has decided to field candidates having clean image. Chance has also been given to sportsmen and those belonging to Backward Classes," he said. Masood said that the party was planning to contest from more than 100 seats, and the second list of candidates would be released soon.

"In ticket distribution, priority has been given to dedicated workers," Masood said. Some big leaders of almost all the parties are in our contact, he said.

PTI