Phase-1 poll on April 11, key leaders file nominations on last day

Political heavyweights including Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, V K Singh, former chief ministers Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Harish Rawat and Jitan Ram Manjhi filed their nominations Monday, the last day for submitting the papers for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 11.

Among other prominent leaders who filed their papers Monday are former prime minister H D Deve Gowda (Tumkur, Karnataka), BJP's Hema Malini (Mathura, Uttar Pradesh) and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah (Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir). The three constituencies vote in the second phase on April 18. The last day for filing nominations is Tuesday.

During the first phase of the seven-phase elections, polling will be held in 91 constituencies spread across 20 states. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on Tuesday, while March 28 is the last date of withdrawal of candidature.

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari filed his nomination for the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat. Gadkari, who had defeated Vilas Muttemwar (Congress) in the 2014 elections by a margin of 2.84 lakh votes, said he will win with a bigger margin this time.

"People have a good opinion of the work done by the Narendra Modi-led government in the last five years," he told reporters in Nagpur.

Shiv Sena's Krupal Tumane, sitting MP from Ramtek (SC), also filed his nomination for reelection. Nana Patole of the Congress also filed his papers.

In Jammu and Kashmir, NC president Abdullah filed papers from the Srinagar seat which is going to polls in the second phase on April 18. Abdullah, who is seeking reelection from the constituency, was accompanied by his son and party vice-president Omar Abdullah.

Speaking to reporters after filing his papers, the 83-year-old vowed to fight "communal forces" in the country. "I am still young and have to do a lot of work. We have to save our country from communal forces."
In Bihar, former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, LJP leader Chirag Paswan, RLSP Bihar president Bhudeo Choudhary were among 60 candidates who filed their papers on Monday