Cong fields sons of Raj CM in 1st list of 19 candidates

Jaipur: In his electoral debut from his father's home turf Jodhpur, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav Gehlot will take on Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Vaibhav Gehlot was named in the Congress list of candidates released Thursday night, after speculation in the state that the CM was keen that he is fielded by the party.

The BJP had earlier announced the candidate of Shekhawat, who won last time from the same seat dominated by the Bishnoi and the Jat communities. The other prominent name in the list is BJP stalwart Jaswant Singh's son Manvendra Singh who will fight on Congress ticket from Barmer. He had represented the constituency in the 14th Lok Sabha for the BJP.

When he switched over to the Congress, he was pitted against then chief minister Vasundhara Raje in Jhalawar. He lost to her.

The BJP is yet to declare its candidate for the Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha seat dominated by Jats, Muslims and Dalits. Both the major political parties BJP and Congress have declared 19 nominees each so far for the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state.