New Delhi, October 20 (IANS). The process of withdrawal of nominations for the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections ended on Monday. The nomination process for this phase started on 10 October and was completed on 17 October. The nominations received on October 18 were scrutinized at the returning officer level. After this the candidates got the opportunity to withdraw their names till 20th October.
The first phase includes a total of 121 assembly constituencies under 18 districts. A total of 1,690 candidates had filed nominations in this phase, out of which 1,375 nominations were found valid. 61 candidates withdrew their nominations, leaving the total number of candidates at 1,314.
In this phase, the highest number of candidates were in Kudhni and Muzaffarpur assembly seats, where 20-20 candidates are in the fray. At the same time, minimum 5 candidates each are in Bhore, Alauli and Parbatta assembly seats.
According to the district-wise list, the highest number of nomination returns (9) came from Patna, followed by Darbhanga (8), Begusarai (7) and Gopalganj (6). Apart from this, 5 candidates in Vaishali, 4 in Muzaffarpur, while 3 each in Siwan, Samastipur, Nalanda and Buxar withdrew their names. 2 candidates each in Madhepura, Khagaria and Munger, and one candidate each in Saharsa, Saran, Shekhpura and Bhojpur withdrew their names.
According to the last list of candidates in 14 assembly constituencies of Patna district, a total of 149 candidates are in the fray. 9 candidates withdrew their nomination papers. Maximum 14 candidates are contesting in Paliganj assembly of Patna district.
Similarly, if we talk about Bhagalpur district, 102 candidates filed nominations for 7 assembly seats. A total of 21 candidates filed their nomination in Nathnagar Assembly.
Let us inform you that the date of voting for the first phase has been fixed as 6th November. Voting in the second phase of Bihar assembly elections will be held on November 11, while the counting of votes will take place on November 14.
–IANS
DCH/
