Poll process underway in Kerala; no nominations on day one

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 28 (UNI) The process of Assembly elections in Kerala got underway today with the Election Commission issuing notification for the first phase of polls on April 22.

However, EC sources said no nominations were filed in any constituencies of the state on the first day of filing nominations.

In the first phase, 59 constituencies in Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram will go to the polls.

Elections in the state are to be held in three phases and the notification for the second phase would be issued on March 31 and the third phase on April 5.

In the second phase, 66 constituencies in Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam would go to the polls on April 29. The third phase on May 3 would involve only 15 constituencies in the northern districts of Kannur and Kasaragod.

The last date for filing of nominations for the first phase is April 4 and the scrutiny of papers would take the next day. The last day for withdrawal is April 7.

The main contenders the Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front have almost finalised their candidates. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also released its list of candidates.

UNI PN VV HS BS1937