New Delhi, Mar. 8 : The CPI (M) has released its first list of 59 candidates in 16 states for the coming Lok Sabha elections. The list, which includes 17 sitting MPs, features only three women.

CPI (M) will announce the candidates for Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Lakshadweep in its second list, as seat sharing talks with allies in the states are still on.

"This is for the first time that the party is contesting from Lakshadweep," CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told reporters after the two-day party Central Committee meeting on Sunday.

"We have identified 60 seats to contest in the first list. Candidates for 59 seats have been identified while the nominee for one seat in Assam will be announced by tomorrow evening," he added.

The party is introducing 12 new names in the elections while only three women, including two sitting MPs from Bengal Susmita Bauri and Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, were nominated for fighting the elections.

"Hopefully there will some more women in the next list. I agree that party should make more efforts in this regard. More needs to be done," Karat said, adding that his party was vociferous in demanding the passing of Women''s Reservation Bill. (ANI)