Total 2,304 nominations filed for Haryana polls

INLD candidate Ashok Arora and BJP candidate Anil Vij were among 1,352 candidates who filed papers on the last day of filling nomination for the Haryana assembly polls scheduled to be held on October 15.
With this, a total 2,304 nominations were filed in Haryana for the assembly elections. INLD candidate Ashok Arora filed nomination papers from Thanesar assembly seat while BJP candidate Anil Vij filed his papers from Ambala Cantt.
Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Shrikant Walgad said since the inception of the state, a maximum number of 4,813 nomination papers were filed during the 1996 assembly polls.
As many as 776 nominations were filed in 1967 whereas in 1968 these were 686. He said 833 nominations were filed in 1972 which included 815 male and 18 female candidates.

He said 1,696 nominations were filed in 1977 polls which included 1667 male and 29 female. Similarly, 2,825 nominations were filed in the year 1982.
He said 3,450 nominations were filed in 1987 which included 3,355 male and 95 female candidates whereas in the year 1991, 4,058 nominations were filed.

Walgad said that 4,813 nominations were filed in the 1996 Assembly polls included 4,601 male and 212 female candidates.
Likewise, 14,80 nominations were filed in the year 2000 which included 1,384 male and 96 female candidates.
He said 1,418 nominations were filed in 2005 which included 1268 male and 150 female candidates. He said that 1874 nominations were filed during the Assembly Elections of 2009 which included 1613 male and 261 female candidates.

Walgad said the scrutiny of nomination papers would be carried out on September 29 and candidates would be able to withdraw their candidature by October 1.
The polling will be held on October 15 and counting of votes would be held on October 19. The process of elections would come to an end by October 22, he added.
The polling will be held on October 15 and counting on October 19. About 1.61 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes at 16,244 polling stations to be set up in the state.
In the assembly elections five years back Congress had won 40 seats, INLD 31, BJP 4, HJC-BL 6, SAD and BSP one each and seven seats had gone to Independents.

Though Bhupinder Singh Hooda had failed to lead Congress to a majority in 2009, the Congress formed the government for the second term with the support of five of the six HJC-BL members who joined the ruling outfit and seven Independents.
Haryana is all set to witness a multi-cornered contest this time. Key players in the fray include Congress, BJP, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), BSP, Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC)-Haryana Jan Chetna Party (HJCP) alliance, Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP), besides the Left parties.