73 jump into poll fray

Shimla: A total of 73 candidates filed their nominations for the 68 Assembly constituencies polling for which will take place on November 9. In Bilaspur district, Jeet Ram Katwal, a retired IAS officer filed his nomination as BJP candidate from Jhanduta constituency. In Shimla district only Shashi Bala, BJP candidate from Rohru segment, filed her nomination papers. In Kinnaur Assembly constituency Kailash Negi filed his nomination paper as a BSP candidate. In Lahaul Spiti, Ravi Thakur filed his nomination paper as Congress candidate and Sudershan Jaspa filed his nomination paper as an Independent candidate. The last date for filing of nominations is October 23, while the polling will take place on November 9. The counting of votes will take place on December 18.

Hamirpur/ Bilaspur: As many as eight candidates filed their nomination papers on Friday. Sandeep Kadam, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, said no nomination was filed on Diwali (October 19). The candidates who filed nominations included three in Badrsar — Inder Dutt Lakhanpal (Congress), Baldev Sharma (BJP) and Rajesh Kumar— as covering candidate for the BJP. In Nadaun Constituency, candidates who filed their nominations included Lekah Raj independent, Ranjeet Singh Independent and Hardyal Singh as the covering candidate for the BJP candidate. In Bhoranj (SC) Constituency, only Dhani Ram, an Independent, filed his nomination. In Bilaspur district Jeet Ram Katwal from the BJP filed nomination in the Jandhuta constituency. —OC

Una: Seven nominations on five seats in Una district were filed on Friday. In the Chintpurni (SC) seat, Cong sitting MLA Kuldeep Kumar filed his papers, while BJP candidate Balbir Singh and BSP’s Ranjit Singh too submitted his nomination to the Returning Officer. In Gagret, BJP candidate Rajesh Thakur filed his nominations. In Haroli, BSP candidate Virender Kumar of Khad village, who had filed his nominations on Wednesday, filed another set of nominations.  —OC 

Sundernagar: Sohan Lal Thakur, Chief Parliamentary Secretary and MLA, Sundernagar, on Friday filled his nomination paper as a Congress candidate from the Sundernagar Assembly segment. He led an impressive procession from Jawahar Park to SDM office and submitted his paper to the SDM, Sundernagar. Rakesh Jamwal, BJP candidate, also filled his nomination paper today as an official candidate of the BJP from the Sundernagar Assembly segment. 

Manali: Not happy with the BJP for distribution of ticket, Gajender Thakur, a senior BJP worker, on Friday filed his nomination from Manali as an independent candidate. He came out with his supporters and showed his strength in the town and completed the paper work at Mini-Ssecretariat here. Gajender Thakur is president of the Manali Hoteliers Association. He is a senior BJP worker and was one of the BJP ticket aspirants.  “I have a good support of people. Everybody wants me to go to the Assembly. Both Congress and BJP leaders here have failed to develop our area,” he said.