186 candidates withdraw from Punjab Assembly polls

Chandigarh, Jan 29 (UNI) As many as 186 candidates bowed out from the February 13 elections to the 117-member Punjab Assembly on the last day of withdrawl of nominations today, leaving 1039 aspirants in the fray.

However, none of the ten candidates withdrew from contest in the Amritsar Parliamentary by-election, scheduled to be held alongwith the state Assembly polls.

In all, 1664 nominations were filed for the Assembly elections.

There were massive withdrawls from Hoshiarpurdistrict, according to information received at the state Election Office here.

The highest number of 132 contestants are left in Ludhiana district and and the lowest number of 22 candidates in Tarn Taran district.

Prominent among those left in the fray after withdrawls, include Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) President Parkash Singh Badal, Congress President S S Dullo, Shiromani Akali Dal ( Amritsar) President Simranjit Singh Mann and former SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur.

Most of the sitting MLAs are seeking re-election. They include all ministers in the Amarinder Singh Government.

Mr Amarinder Singh is involved in an 18-cornered contest for the Patiala seat which he represented in the present Assembly. He faces SAD candidate Surjit Singh and nominees of the NCP and the BSP besides 14 independents.

Mr Badal, who is likely to become the Chief Minister if SAD(Badal)-BJP alliance is voted to power at the hustings, is seeking re-election from Lambi constituency in Muktsar district. He is pitted against his cousin Mahesh Inder Singh of the Congress, BSP nominee Harpreet Singh and five independents.

Cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu is facing state Finance Minister Surinder Singla in a multi-cornered contest in the Amritsar Parliamentary by-poll.

Polling in the Assembly elections and Amritsar Lok Sabha by-election will be held on February 13. The polling will be held from 0800 hours to 1700 hours.

The counting of votes for both Assembly and Amritsar Lok Sabha polls would take place on February 27. The election process will be completed before March two.

UNI