Chandigarh, Sep 23 - With just 48 hours to go before the deadline for filing nominations, Haryana's ruling Congress Wednesday announced its first list of 68 candidates for elections to the 90-member state assembly.

The party ignored the claim of former deputy chief minister and four-time legislator from Kalka, Chander Mohan. Twenty-two candidates are yet to be announced.

Chander Mohan had got embroiled in a controversy in December last year by changing his religion to Islam, his name to Chand Mohammed and marrying lawyer Anuradha Bali aka Fiza.

Though Chander Mohan recently reverted to being a Hindu, 'divorced' Fiza and sought Congress ticket, he was ignored from the two seats - Kalka and Panchkula - he had sought.

Elections to the state assembly will take place Oct 13.

Prominent names in the list include Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Garhi-Sampla-Kiloi), Finance Minister Birender Singh (Uchana Kalan), Forest and Tourism Minister Kiran Chaudhary (Tosham) and state Congress president Phool Chand Mullana (Mullana-reserved).

The last date for filing of nominations is Friday.