85 candidates in fray from Kathua for J

Jammu, Nov 25 (UNI) As many as 85 candidates are in the fray from Kathua district, which will go to polls in fifth phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election on December 13.

''Record breaking 85 candidates from Jammu region representing various political parties and independent, have filed their nomination papers and joined the electoral fray for five segments of Kathua district,'' official sources here said.

Maximum number of 22 candidates filed their papers in Kathua constituency, followed by 17 each in Basohli and Billawar, 15 in Hiranagar and 14 in Bani, official sources added.

Congress MP from Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat, Choudhary Lal Singh, Congress rebel and former minister, Babu Singh, another Congress rebel Naresh Sharma and Sagar Chand (Samajwadi Party), who had represented the seat in 1996 as a BSP MLA also filed their papers from Kathua segment.

Scrutiny of nominations would be done this afternoon while the candidates can withdraw their papers upto November 27, sources added.

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