790 in fray for Phase VI, 83 file papers for phase VII in UP

Lucknow, Apr 16 (UNI) Altogether 790 candidates are in the fray for the sixth phase of Uttar Pradesh elections to 52 Assembly seats where polling is slated for May 3.

For Phase-VII, 83 candidates filed their nomination papers today and now the total number of candidates has gone up to 104.

Prominent among those who filed their nominations in phase-VII are rebel SP MP Beni Prasad Verma from the Ayodhya seat and State Minister Awadhesh Prasad from the Sohawal (SC) seat, both in Faizabad district.

In Phase-VI, a total of 40 candidates withdrew their nomination papers, and after the expiry of the date for withdrawal now 790 candidates are in the fray.

Soraon seat in Allahabad has the maximum number of 25 candidates while the minimum is nine in Meja (SC) in the same district.

By-elections to the two Lok Sabha seats, Robertsganj (reserved) and Mirzapur, would also be held along with the sixth phase polling where 12 candidates are in the fray for the Robertsganj LS seat and 11 for the Mirzapur seat.

For Phase-VII, nominations will continue till April 20. Scrutiny of papers would be done on the next day and candidates can withdraw their nominations till April 23. Elections for the last phase in 59 seats will be held on May 8.

In the fifth phase, a total of 863 candidates are in the fray for 58 seats where polling will be held on April 28 while for the fourth phase elections on April 23, there are 929 candidates in the contest.

In the third phase of polling to be held tomorrow in 58 seats, 861 candidates are in the fray. In the second phase of polling held on April 13, altogether 881 candidates were in the fray for 58 seats and the polling was over 46 per cent.

In the first phase of polling on April 7, the fate of as many as 839 candidates were sealed where over 46 per cent of voters had cast ballots in 62 seats spread over 13 districts.

UNI