Congress fields women candidates from two key constituencies in Chhattisgarh

The Congress has fielded women candidates, including a former MLA, in two key constituencies - Durg and Korba in Chhattisgarh for the April-May Lok Sabha polls.

Former MLA Pratima Chandrakar will take on the BJP's Vijay Baghel, a Kurmi leader and former MLA, from Durg Lok Sabha seat. Jyotsna Mahant, wife of Assembly Speaker Charandas Mahant, has been fielded from Korba against BJP's Jyotinand Dubey.

Congress sources said Speaker Mahant, an MLA from Sakti, has considerable influence in Korba region, having been Lok Sabha MP from there in 2009. They said Mahant's work in the region would help his wife's poll prospects.

Chandrakar was MLA from Durg Rural seat in 2008 but lost the 2013 Assembly polls. In the 2018 Assembly polls, she was replaced from the seat by sitting MP Tamradhwaj Sahu. With the announcement of candidates for Durg and Korba late Monday evening,

the Congress has completed ticket distribution in all 11 seats of the state. Chhattisgarh will vote in three phases on April 11, April 18 and April 23.

-PTI