New Delhi, March 27 (IANS). A total of 1,955 candidates are in the fray for the assembly elections to be held in two states and one Union Territory and by-elections to be held in four states, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Friday.
The Election Commission said that 250 candidates have withdrawn their nominations.
Among the states where elections are to be held, 722 candidates are in the fray in Assam (which has 126 assembly seats). There are 890 candidates in Kerala (which has 140 seats), while 294 candidates are contesting in the Union Territory of Puducherry (which has 30 seats).
As far as by-elections are concerned, three candidates are in the fray for one seat in Goa. There are 34 candidates for two seats in Karnataka, while six candidates each are contesting the by-elections for one seat each in Nagaland and Tripura.
ECI released data related to the assembly elections and by-elections to be held on April 9.
On March 15, the Commission had announced the schedule of elections to the assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal as well as by-elections to be held in six states.
The last date for filing nominations for by-elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry as well as four states going to polls on April 9 was March 23, while the last date for withdrawal of nominations was March 26 (till 3 pm).
The ECI said that the Returning Officer (RO) will publish the list of contesting candidates in the Official Gazette as per the ‘Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961’.
The RO shall keep in his custody all election papers and proceedings relating to nomination, scrutiny and withdrawal of candidature in each constituency in a sealed packet or envelope.
Meanwhile, as part of ECI’s initiative to enhance voter convenience, EVM ballot papers will have color photographs of candidates; Also, the serial number, name and election symbol of the candidates will be printed in capital letters to ensure easy identification by the voters.
–IANS
SCH