289 nominations filed for March 5 polls

Kohima, Feb 18 (UNI) In all 289 candidates have filed their nominations for the March five Assembly elections in Nagaland, according to the Chief Electoral Officer here today.

A release from the CEO's office said of them 221 are the main candidates and 68 stand-bys.

Scrutiny of the nomination papers was on at the district headquarters of twelve electoral districts and the number of valid nominations should be announced by tomorrow.

The last date of withdrawal of nomination is February 20, the release said.

It said the maximum number of 14 nominations was filed for the Thonoknyu seat in Tuensang district.

Party-wise nomination papers submitted so far are Congress-97, Nagaland Peoples Front-76, RJD-27, BJP-26, NCP-8, JD(U)-3, JD(S)-5, UNDP-2, RLP-2, LJP-3, APP-one and Independents 39.

UNI AS PL SK KN1721