340 LS candidates in fray in Karnataka's first phase

A total of 340 candidates are in the fray from 14 constituencies in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka on April 18, an official statement said on Tuesday.

"As of Tuesday, the last day for filing nominations for the firt phase election to 14 constituencies, 340 candidates have filed a total of 452 nominations," Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said in the statement.

Maximum number of candidates were from Bangalore North (37), Bangalore South (36) and Bangalore Central (35).

Polling will be held in two phases in the southern state, with 14 from the southern and central regions on April 18, and the remaining 14 in the coastal and northern regions on April 23. Vote counting is on May 23.

In the 2014 general elections, 233 candidates had filed 306 nominations from the 14 constituencies included for the first phase of election, the statement said.

--IANS

bha/vd