63 candidates file nominations for LS polls in Assam

Guwahati, April 4 (IANS/PTI): A total of 63 candidates have filed nominations for the four Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam which are going to the polls in the third phase to be held on April 23, election officials said on Thursday. Dhubri, Kokrajhar (reserved for Scheduled Tribes), Barpeta and Gauhati Lok Sabha constituencies are going to the polls in the third phase. While a total of 17 candidates have filed nominations from Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency, 12 candidates have filed nominations for the Kokrajhar seat. In Barpeta constituency, 14 candidates have filed nominations and 20 candidates have filed nominations in Gauhati constituency. Prominent among those who filed nominations for Dhubri constituency are sitting MP and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal, Zabed Islam from Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Abu Taher Bepari of the Congress. There are seven Independent candidates. In Kokrajhar constituency, the list of prominent candidates includes sitting MP Naba Kumar Sarania (Independent), Pramila Rani Brahma (Bodoland People's Front), Urkhao Gwra Brahma of United People's Party (Liberal) and Congress' Sabda Ram Rabha. Four Independent candidates have filed nominations in the constituency. Out of the candidates in Barpeta constituency, the prominent ones include former AGP Rajya Sabha MP Kumar Deepak Das and Abdul Khaleque of the Congress. In Gauhati, there are Bobbeeta Sharma (Congress), Queen Oja of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Upamanyu Hazarika (Independent). 63 in fray for last phase of Assam polls Altogether 63 candidates have filed their nomination papers for the four Parliamentary constituencies going to polls in the third phase in Assam, with 26 of them submitting papers on Thursday, the last day. The highest number of nine candidates filed their nominations Thursday for the Gauhati constituency, followed by seven in Barpeta, six in Dhubri and four in Kokrajhar (ST) seats, an election department spokesman said. Gauhati Lok Sabha constituency has the highest number of 20 candidates. Prominent among them are Queen Oja of the BJP and Bobbeeta Sharma of the Congress. In Dhubri seat, 17 candidates have filed their papers. They included AIUDF MP and party chief Badruddin Ajmal, AGP's Zabed Islam and Abu Taher Bepari of the Congress. Assam govt. declares dry days during elections Assam government has declared dry day for 48 hours - from 5 pm when the campaign ends to the time when the polling concludes on a day - in all the three phases of Lok Sabha elections in the state. As per the declaration, dry day would be in force in the constituencies where elections would be held on April 11, 18 and 23, an official release said Thursday. In the first phase, the 48-hour period of liquor ban would be between 5 pm of April 9 and the same time of April 11. Similar system would be followed in the two other phases. Dry day will also be in force on the day of counting on April 23. There would be total ban on sale of any intoxicant during the dry days, the release said. Steps will also be taken to prohibit sale of liquor in areas adjoining constituencies concerned to prevent movement of liquor from those areas.