After 32 years, nominations near 2,000-mark in Punjab

Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 18

Call it an enthusiasm to contest or just a fallout of the entry of a new political party, but it is after a long gap of 32 years that the number of nominations filed by candidates for the 117 Punjab Assembly seats has almost touched the 2,000-mark.

Also, the number of nominations filed for the 2017 Assembly elections has increased by 200 compared to 2012, when 1,731 candidates had filed nominations.

A total of 1,941 candidates have filed papers this time. Today was the last day to file nominations.

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It was way back in 1985 that 2,175 candidates had filed nominations despite the fact that militancy was at its peak and the state had gone to hustings after President’s rule. But only 875 were left in fray after withdrawal of candidature and scrutiny of papers then.

The number of candidates who will remain in the contest will drop after the scrutiny of nominations on Thursday and withdrawal of candidature by Saturday (January 21). 

“An increase in the number of nominations was expected due to entry of AAP. The new party has not only fielded candidates in all segments, its entry has also persuaded a lot many small and splinter groups to jump into elections,” said a senior electoral officer.