Five candidates file nomination for Kota by-poll

Bilaspur, Nov 14 (UNI) Five candidates today filed their nomination for the December 4 by-election to Kota assembly constituency in Chhattisgarh.

No candidate had filed their nomination since the electoral process began five days back.

On the sixth day today, Ms Urmial Marko, Mr Phool Singh Pedro (both Gondwana Ganatantra Party), Mr Madhukar Pandey (Shiv Sena), Mr Shyamlal Marawi (Chhattisgarh Vikas Party) and independent candidate Dilharan Singh filed their nomination.

The last date for filing nomination is November 17, while scrutiny will take place on November 18. November 20 is the last date for withdrawing names.

Counting of votes will be done on December 7.

The by-election was necessitated following the death of former Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh Speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukl.

The Vidhan Sabha seat is a traditonal Congress stronghold and the party had retained it since 1957.

The ruling BJP is likely to field Mr Bhupendra Singh Thakur from Kota constituency. Mr Thakur had unsuccessfully contested the the last assembly poll from the same constituency.

On the other hand, former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi's wife Dr Renu Jogi is likely to get the Congress ticket for election to the seat.

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