586 candidates in fray for first phase of Assam poll

Guwahati: The nominations of 586 candidates have been found valid for the sixty five constituencies going to the poll in the first phase of Assembly elections on April 4.
A total of 599 candidates had filed nominations for the first phase. “Out of this, 13 were rejected,” Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Assam Gaurav Bothra told a press conference here. The detailed list and names of the rejected and valid candidates were still coming in from different districts and the final picture would be known by Monday, he said.
For the second phase of poll on April 11 involving 61 constituencies in the 126-seat Assam Assembly, 35 candidates have filed their nominations till now. The notification for these seats was issued on March 15, while the last date for filing of nomination is March 22.
The scrutiny of these nominations will be done on March 24 and the last date for withdrawing the same is March 26. The counting of votes in all constituencies will take place on May 19.
Meanwhile, the blaze between various political parties continue to rise in the poll bound Assam.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday termed the AGP as a “sold out” party, alleging that it was fighting elections by taking money from alliance partner BJP. (PTI)