Lok Sabha elections in Bihar: 44 in fray for 1st phase of polling

PATNA: With the withdrawal of three nomination papers on Thursday, only 44 candidates have remained in the fray for the four

Lok Sabha

constituencies going to the polls in the first phase on April 11. Thursday was the last date for withdrawal of nominations for the first phase of polling.

Additional chief electoral officer Sanjay Kumar Singh said while 13 contestants each have remained in the fray for the Nawada and Gaya constituencies, nine candidates each will contest from the Jamui and the Aurangabad seats. Three candidates withdrew their nominations on the last day for withdrawal of candidature for the first phase on Thursday.

The candidature of 13 contestants was earlier cancelled during scrutiny of papers for the first phase. Altogether 60 candidates had filed their nominations for the first phase, the notification of which was issued on March 18.

Meanwhile, notification was issued by the Election Commission of India for the third phase of polling to be held on April 23. Elections will be held in five constituencies —Jhanjahrpur, Araria, Supaul, Khagaria and Madhepura in the third phase.

The ACEO said two choppers and three companies of central armed paramilitary forces have been deployed for area domination exercise in the Maoist-hit Gaya constituency. Suspected Maoists blew the ancestral house of a former BJP MLC Anuj Kumar Singh at Sherghati in Gaya district late on Wednesday night.

The ACEO said the area domination exercise will be carried out three days before the polling. Instructions have already been issued to execute pending warrants and property attachment orders. In addition, intensive search operations will be conducted in the villages considered to be stronghold of the Maoists.