Congress again fields 40% women in second UP list

New Delhi, January 20

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The Congress on Thursday released the second list of 41 candidates for the UP elections, fielding 16 women in fulfilment of its promise to nominate 40 per cent women candidates in the state.

Among those fielded is Poonam Pandit (from Syana), former international shooter who played a significant role during the farmers’ agitation and stood with the farmers against the farm laws. The party has also fielded its late spokesperson Rajeev Tyagi’s wife Sangeeta from Sahibabad.

Tyagi had died during a live television debate forcing Sangeeta to move the apex court against hate speech. Also in the party’s list is Sikander Valmiki from Agra Cantt.

Sikander was suspended from his state government job at the water department after he led a candle march against alleged injustice in Hathras rape case. He was equally vocal in demanding justice in the matter of custodial death of SC community member Arun Valmiki in the state.

Tukki Mal Khatik, Congress candidate from Khurja, is credited with feeding thousands of migrants who walked back home during the second Covid wave. —