Assembly polls: Filing of nominations begins today for Punjab and 3rd phase in UP

DARJEELING, INDIA - APRIL 10: Supporters wearing masks of BJP Prime Minister candidate Narendra Modi during his election rally at Siliguri on April 10, 2014 in Darjeeling, India. Around 815 million people have registered to vote in worlds biggest election, in which the battle is between pro-business Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi against the Nehru-Gandhi familys unpopular ruling Congress party. (Photo by Bikram Sashanker/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

The process of filing nominations for the Third Phase of Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and the Single-Phase Elections in Punjab will begin today with the issuance of notification. Uttar Pradesh is going to polls in seven phases from 10th of February to 7th of March.

The Third Phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted on 20th of February in 59 Assembly Constituencies from 16 districts including 15 seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes.

In addition, the Single-Phase polling in Punjab will be held simultaneously on 20th of next month. All the 117 Assembly Constituencies in the state will go to polls together in this phase.

The last date for filing of nomination papers for the third phase of Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and Single-Phase Elections in Punjab is 1st of February. The scrutiny of papers will be undertaken on 2nd of February. The last date for withdrawal of candidature will be 4th of February.

Meanwhile, the picture of the electoral contests in the First Phase of Assembly Elections in Uttar Pradesh will become clear on Thursday which is the last day for withdrawal of candidature. Scrutiny of nomination papers for the first phase completed yesterday. Nomination papers of 658 candidates were found valid after scrutiny. Nominations of 152 candidates were rejected by the Election Commission on various grounds.