The Indian National Congress today released a list of 16 candidates for the Puducherry Assembly elections, a day after nominations were finalised. Key candidates include PCC President and MP V. Vaithilingam (Thattanchavady), M. Vaithiyanathan (Lawspet), R.K.R. Anantharaman (Manavely), M. Kandasamy (Embalam), R. Kamalakannan (Thirunallar) and Ramesh Parambath (Mahe). Congress is also contesting five additional seats – Kalapet, Karaikal South, Mangalam, Ozhukarai and Raj Bhavan – where it faces INDIA bloc allies. In Mangalam, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy (AINRC) is in the fray. In Ozhukarai, Congress is contesting despite the seat being allotted to the CPI. In Raj Bhavan, BJP state president K.P. Ramalingam is among the key contenders.