566 candidates file nominations for first phase poll

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 4 (UNI) Altogether 566 candidates filed their nomination papers for the first phase of elections to the Kerala Assembly on April 22, after the nominations closed today.

SFI state president Sindhu Joy from Puthupalli, where she is pitted against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, was among the 315 candidates, who filed their nomination papers today.

She filed her papers from the Poojapura Central Prison, where she was incarcerated on various charges of destroying public property and attacking police during student agitations. She was granted bail today.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee executive member T Saratchandra Prasad filed his papers from Thiruvananthapuram West. Mr Prasad is pitted against the UDF candidate.

Prominent candidates whose electoral fortunes would be decided in the first phase of the polls are Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, his Cabinet colleagues K M Mani, K R Gouri, M V Raghavan, Babu Divakaran, C F Thomas, K C Venugopal, Adoor Prakash, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and N Sakthan and Deputy Speaker N Sundaran Nadar.

While the scrutiny of papers would take place tomorrow, the last day for withdrawal is April 7.

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

The last day for filing nominations for the second phase ends on April 7. In the second phase, 66 constituencies in Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts would go to the polls on April 29.

The elections in the state will be held in three phases and the notification for the final phase would be issued tomorrow.

The third phase on May 3 would involve 15 constituencies in the northern districts of Kannur and Kasaragod.

The counting of votes would take place on May 11.

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