Twenty first timers figure in the initial list of 67 candidates of BJP for the forthcoming assembly polls in Chhattisgarh.
The list finalised by the party's central election committee for the November 11 and 19 polls also include 34 youth and six women.
The party has also changed the candidature of nine sitting MLAs and fielded young faces instead. Twenty-three of the selected candidates are from Scheduled Tribes, nine from Scheduled Castes and 17 from backward classes.
The meeting held under the presidentship of BJP chief Rajnath Singh was attended by L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sushma Swaraj and Narendra Modi.
Party general secretary Ananth Kumar told reporters that the CEC has authorised Rajnath Singh to select the remaining 23 candidates in consultation with Chief Minister Raman Singh.
BJP general secretary and incharge of the party's Chattissgarh affairs, J P Nadda said the list will be finalised in another two-three days.
Among the remaining aspirants are 15 sitting MLAs.
