60 Candidates File Nomination Papers For Second Phase of Lok Sabha Polls

GUWAHATI: The line for the battle for 10 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam has been clearly drawn with the filing of nominations by 60 candidates for five seats going to polls in the second phase on April 18. The filing of nomination papers for the first phase of the poll slated for April 11 concluded on Monday.

The filing of nominations for the second phase concluded on Tuesday. The Parliamentary constituencies going to polls in the second phase are Karimganj, Silchar, Autonomous Districts (Diphu), Mangaldoi and Nagaon. The scrutiny of nomination papers for the second phase is on Wednesday.

According to the State Election Department, a total of 19 candidates filed their nominations for the Karimganj seat, 14 for Silchar, six for Autonomous Districts (Diphu),13 for Mangaldoi and eight for the Nagaon seat.

There were a few heavyweights who filed their nominations for the second phase of polls on Tuesday. Some of them are Rupak Sarma of the BJP for the Nagaon seat and his rival Congress candidate Pradyut Bordoloi; as well as the Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly Kripanath Mallah of the BJP for the Karimganj seat.

With the air redolent of the Rongali Bihu, the poll processions for filing of the nomination papers literally looked like processions for showcasing culture. AGP president Atul Bora, Minister Piyush Hazarika and MLA Roma Kanta Deuri were seen in their cultural best in the procession that led the BJP’s Nagaon candidate Rupak Sarma to the Returning Officer to file his nominations. Accompanied by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, State BJP president Ranjit Kumar Dass and AGP president Atul Bora, Sarma submitted his nomination papers to the Returning Officer.

Talking to the media waiting outside, Sonowal said: “The people of the State are set to unroll the welcome mat for the alliance candidates.”

Meanwhile, Congress candidate Pradyut Bordoloi, accompanied by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Ripun Bora and MLA Rakibul Hussain, also submitted his nominations to the Returning Officer in Nagaon.

Talking to the media, Ripun Bora said: “The picture is almost clear now. Right now we’re in a position to win eight to ten seats in the State.”

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is going to issue notification for the third phase of Lok Sabha poll on March 28. Four constituencies – Guwahati, Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Dhubri – will go to the polls on April 23 in this phase. While the last date of filing of nomination papers of this phase is April 4, the scrutiny will be on April 5. The withdrawal of candidature will be on April 8.

The counting will be on May 23 along with rest of the country.

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