29 aspirants for Rajnandgaon by-poll

Rajnandgaon, Mar 10 (UNI) As many as 29 candidates have filed their nomination papers to contest for the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat in the by-election scheduled for March 29.

State's ruling BJP has fielded Mr Leelaram Bhojwani, a former minister of undivided Madhya Pradesh, while opposition Congress has nominated Mr Devarat Singh to contest for the seat.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Repulican Party of India (K), the Gondwana Gana Parishad and the Chhattisgarh Vikas Party, have also fielded their candidates.

By-election in Rajnandgaon was necessitated following the expulsion of BJP MP Pradeep Gandhi from the Lok Sabha after he was caught in the 'cash-for-query' scandal.

Last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is March 14 and polling is fixed for March 29.

UNI