85 candidates in third phase polls

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 17 (UNI) A total of 85 candidates are in the fray for the third phase of Assembly elections in Kerala on May 3, when the last day of withdrawal of nominations ended today.

Election Commission sources said 57 candidates were in the fray in Kannur and 28 candidates were contesting from Kasargode.

In the last phase of elections, Kannur and Kasargode districts would go to the polls.

The prominent candidates in the fray include Congress leader K Sudhakaran (Kannur), IUML's Cherkalam Abdulla (Manjeshwaram), Congress(S) leader Ramachandran Kadannappally (Edakkad), CPI(M) leaders Kodiyeri Balakrishnan (Thalassery) and P Jayarajan (Koothuparamba).

The main fight in the politically sensitive districts is between the Congress led UDF and CPI(M) led LDF. But the BJP votes are also a factor in some segments, particularly Manjeshwaram where they are hoping to win.

The elections in the state are to be held in three phases. A total of 409 candidates are in the fray for the first phase and as many as 437 candidates for the second phase.

In the first phase 59 constituencies in Thiruvananthapuram, kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki and Kottayam districts would go to the polls on April 22. The second phase on April 29 will see elections in 66 constituencies in Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts.

The counting of votes would take place on May 11.

UNI PN1936