810 candidates in fray for Delhi polls

New

, Nov 21: A total of 810 candidates, including those from

,

and AAP, are in the fray for the December 4 polls to the 70-member Delhi assembly.

Nomination papers of 900 candidates were accepted after scrutiny on November 19. "Ninety candidates have withdrawn their nominations yesterday following which 810 candidates would be contesting for the December 4 state assembly elections," Chief Electoral officer Vijay Dev said today.

Maximum candidates (23) would be contesting from Burari followed by Matia Mahal and Matiala, from where 19 candidates each are trying their luck.

Patel Nagar constituency has the minimum candidates as only four contestants are in the fray, Dev said.

After scrutiny nomination papers of 900 candidates were accepted while that of 210 were rejected due to faults in their applications.

In the three-cornered assembly election, Chief Minster Sheila Dikshit (New Delhi), BJP's nominee for top post Harsh Vardhan (Krishna Nagar) and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal (New Delhi) are in the fray.

Delhi goes to polls on December 4.

The 810 candidates who would contesting the elections include 70 from AAP, 70 from Congress, 69 from BSP, 66 from BJP, 10 from CPI, nine from NCP and seven from CPI(M).

Besides them, there are independent candidates and contestants from other political parties.

BJP has fielded candidates in 66 seats, leaving four to its ally SAD. "In 2008 assembly elections, 1,134 candidates had filed their nominations, out of which 194 were rejected.

Sixty-five candidates had withdrawn their nominations and 875 candidates had contested elections," said CEO Vijay Dev. The total number of contesting candidates in 2003 assembly elections was 817.

PTI