Nomination process for Thane LS Bypoll begins

Mumbai, Apr 28 (UNI) The nomination process started today with issuance of notification for the by-election to the vacant Thane Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra.

The last day for filing nominations is May 5. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on May 6 and the last date for withdrawal of nomination is May 8, according to official sources.

Polling, through electronic voting machines, shall be conducted on May 22. The counting shall take place on May 28 and the result is likely to be declared on the same day.

The Thane Lok Sabha seat fell vacant due to the death of Shiv Sena member Prakash Paranjpe in February last. The party has announced his son, Anand Paranjpe, as its candidate for the bye-election.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a partner in the Congress-led ruling Democratic Front in the state, has announced Sanjiv Naik, former Mayor of Navi Mumbai and son of Maharashtra Labour Minister Ganesh Naik as its candidate.

The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party are likely to support the NCP and Shiv Sena respectively and the bye-election could witness almost a direct fight between the ruling and the opposition alliances in the state.

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