Second phase of polling on Friday: 89 constituencies ready for polling; 1210 candidates competing

NEW DELHI: 89 constituencies in 12 states including Kerala and the central government ruled Jammu and Kashmir will go to the polling booths on Friday for the second phase of voting. 1210 candidates are contesting. In Jammu and Kashmir, the polling is in the Jammu constituency. Outer Manipur constituencies where polls are still pending will also go to booths on Friday.

Those staying in the camps in the wake of the conflict can vote there. Polling will be held in 14 constituencies in Karnataka and Karimganj, Silchar, Mangaldoi, Nowgong and Kaliabor in Assam. Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnia, Bhagalpur and Banka in Bihar, Rajnandgaon, Kanker and Mahasamund in Chhattisgarh, Tikamgarh, Damoh, Khajuraho, Satna, Rewa, Hoshangabad, Betul in Madhya Pradesh, Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Yavatmal Washim, Hingoli, Nanded and Parbhani constituencies of Maharashtra will also go to the polling booth on 26th.

Many prominent candidates in second phase

Many prominent people are seeking people's verdict in the second phase. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, actresses Hema Malini, Navneet Kaur Rana, Arun Govil, who played the role of Lord Rama in the Ramayana serial, Suresh Gopi and others are competing in the second phase. Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, V Muraleedharan and others are among those who are seeking people's verdict. Senior Congress leader CP Joshi, Danish Ali and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Sivakumar's brother DK Suresh are also in the fray. Dr. Shashi Tharoor, AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal, film stars Mukesh and Krishnakumar will also seek public verdict on 26th.

The Congress candidate from Mandya, Venkataramana Gowda, with assets of Rs 622 crore, is the richest among the candidates seeking a seat in the second phase. DK Suresh with assets of Rs 593 crores and Hema Malini with assets of Rs 278 crores are behind Venkataramana in terms of assets.