Arunachal: 188 assembly, 11 LS candidates file papers for polls

Itanagar: A total of 188 candidates, including Independents, are in the fray for the 60-member assembly in Arunachal Pradesh, the elections for which will be held on 9 April.

The filing of papers which started on 15 March, the date of issue of notification, ended yesterday.

Eleven candidates filed their papers for the Lok Sabha elections.

The Western Parliamentary constituency will witness a multi-cornered contest with seven candidates in the fray; namely Takam Sanjoy of Congress, BJP candidate Kiren Rijiju, People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) candidate Jalley Sonam, Aaam Aadmi Party nominee Habung Payeng, Taba Taku of Lok Bharati, Trinamool Congress candidate Gumjum Haider and NCP nominee Gicho Kabak (NCP).

The candidates for the eastern Parliamentary Constituency include Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Ninong Ering (Congress), former BJP MP Tapir Gao and PPA nominee Wangman Lowangcha.

The Congress has fielded 60 candidates for the assembly polls, while the opposition BJP nominated 49 candidates. PPA has 20, NCP 12, NPF 11 and Aam Aadmi Party has one.

A total of 32 Independent candidates are also in the fray for the 60-member assembly.

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress which contested the 2009 assembly elections in the state for the first time and won five seats, surprisingly has not fielded any candidates this time.

However, the party has fielded one candidate from the Western Parliamentary constituency.

Scrutiny of papers will be held on 24 March while the last date of withdrawal of candidature is 26 March.

Altogether 7,53,170 electorates, including 3,77,272 female voters, will exercise their franchise in 2,158 polling stations across the state.