LS polls 2024: Filing of nominations for first phase completed

NEW DELHI: The first phase submission of nomination papers for 102 constituencies in 21 states including Tamil Nadu, 60-member Arunachal Pradesh and 32-member Sikkim Legislative Assemblies has been completed. The scrutiny of the papers will be conducted on Thursday. The EC has given time until 30th March to withdraw the nomination papers.

BJP is directly contesting in 77 out of 102 seats in the first phase while NDA allies will seek mandate in 23 seats. Congress has announced 57 candidates. The Samajwadi Party has decided to boycott the elections in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur, the stronghold of Azam Khan, who is currently in jail. Sitting MP Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi is the BJP candidate.

The BJP won here in the by-elections held after Azam Khan resigned after his arrest. The BJP had previously also won the by-election held here when Azam Khan, who was disqualified in a forgery case, had to resign as MLA.

States and seats going to polls on April 19

• Tamil Nadu-39
• Rajasthan-12
• Uttar Pradesh- 8
• Madhya Pradesh-6
• Uttarakhand, Assam and Maharashtra - 5 each
• Bihar-4
• West Bengal-3
• Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya-2 each

The nomination submission will begin today in 88 constituencies, including Kerala, where the elections are scheduled for April 26. The paper can be submitted till April 4 and can be withdrawn until April 8th.