New Delhi, October 20: The Bharatiya Janata Party's Central Election Committee, headed by Union Minister and BJP veteran JP Nadda, released the first list of candidate for the upcoming Telangana assembly elections 2018. In the first list, the party named 38 candidates, including most of its incumbent MLAs in the state legislature.

"The party has considered the aspirations of our dedicated workers in Telangana region. Adequate representation has been given to representatives of all communities," Nadda said, while announcing the first list. "We have also considered how the aspirant has worked for the party in the last 5 years," he added. Check BJP List of Candidates for Chhattisgarh Assembly Polls.

In the 119-member Telangana assembly, the party currently has only 5 MLAs. However, the BJP has launched an aggressive campaign to increase its foothold in the southern state. The primary contest is against the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi and the alliance of Left, Congress and the TDP.

Watch JP Nadda announcing the BJP's first list of candidates for Telangana:

Elections in Telangana will be held in a single-phase on December 7, along with Rajasthan. The results would be declared by the Election Commission on December 11.

All political parties, as well as the independent aspirants, will have to file their nominations before November 19. The polling body will scrutinise the affidavits on November 22.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 20, 2018 10:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).