NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Many candidates made a beeline to various election offices as the deadline approached.
Among over 550 candidates who entered the poll arena in Punjab are former chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (Lehra), Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh (Banur), minister Tota Singh (Moga), Jagdish Singh Garcha (Qila Raipur), Sohan Singh Thandal (Mahilpur), Tikshan Sood (Hoshiarpur) and Balbir Singh Maini (Tanda).
A large number of sitting MLAs hope to retain their seats in the 117-member assembly.
In Uttar Pradesh, former chief ministers in the fray are Mulayam Singh Yadav, Kalyan Singh, Mayawati, Jagdambika Pal and Ram Naresh Yadav.
The total number of candidates who have entered the race for the 403-member assembly is 4,552.
In Manipur, over 250 candidates have filed their papers for the 60-member House.
Prominent among those in the fray are former chief ministers W Nipamacha Singh, Radhabinod Koijam, Rishang Keishing and R K Dorendra Singh.
In Rajasthan, 17 candidates submitted papers for the Ajmer (west) assembly by-election, which was necessitated by the death of Kishan Motwani.
In Haryana, ruling Indian National Lok Dal's M C Gambhir will contest against the BJP's Ganshyam Das for the Yamunanagar seat. They are among 22 candidates in the fray.
The Uttar Pradesh poll will be spread over three days - February 14, 18 and 21. Punjab and Uttaranchal will go to polls on February 13 and 14 while in Manipur, it will be held on February 14 and 21.
By-elections for six Lok Sabha seats and seven assembly constituencies will also be held along with the assembly polls.
The Lok Sabha seats of Guna and Mirzapur fell vacant due to the death of senior Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia and Samajwadi Party leader Phoolan Devi.
Kaliabor parliamentary seat fell vacant after Tarun Gogi resigned to take over as Assam's chief minister.
The assembly constituencies where by-elections will be held are Arvi (Maharashtra), Ajmer (west - Rajasthan), Andipatti (Tamil Nadu), Sayajiganj, Mahuva and Rajkot II (Gujarat).
FOR STATE RELATED REPORTS: Uttar Pradesh Punjab Manipur Uttaranchal
Tell us what you think of this report
Call India
