Jaipur, Nov 18: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, BJP's chief ministerial candidate Vasundhra Raje and widow of Congress leader Rajesh Pilot, Rama Pilot are among 1,541 candidates left in the fray for the December 1 assembly polls in the state. Of the 1,993 candidates who had filed their nominations, 452 candidates withdrew their candidature, a official spokesman said today.

Other prominent contestants include Assembly Speaker Paras Ram Maderna and three former Congress chief ministers Shiv Charan Mathur, Jagannath Paharia and Heera Lal Deopura.

Five rebel candidates from BJP and six from Congress withdrew their nominations in support of the official candidates of their respective parties, the party spokesmen said. Jaipur district has the highest number of 145 candidates vying for eight assembly segments, while Jaisalmer has the lowest number with eight candidates, the official spokesman said.

Other BJP stalwarts in the fray are leader of opposition Gulab Chand Kataria, former Assembly Speaker Shanti Lal Chaplot, state vice-president Ghan Shyam Tiwari, Jaipur Mayor Sheel Dhabhai, party spokesman Kalicharan Saraf and former deputy chief minister Hari Shankar Bhabhra.

Among Congress candidates are two deputy chief ministers B L Bairwa and Kamla, law minister Khet Singh Rathore, education minister B D Kalla and tourism minister Shanti Dhariwal.

Two Rajya Sabha members of Congress Duru Miyan and Tara Chand Bhagora are also trying their luck in the assembly polls. Bureau Report