A total of 142 candidates have been left in the fray for 10 Parliamentary constituencies in second phase of lok Sabha elections to be held on April 17 in Madhya Pradesh. As many as 170 candidates had filed nominations during nomination process for this phase from March 19 to 26.
During scrutiny, 16 nominations were rejected on March 27. Of the remaining 154 candidates, 12 have withdrawn their nominations on Saturday. With this, 142 candidates have been left in the election fray. Saturday was the last day for withdrawal of nominations for the second phase.
Four candidates withdrew their nominations in Damoh, 2 in Bhind and one candidate each withdrew nomination in Morena, Gwalior, Guna, Khajuraho, Bhopal and Rajgarh. No candidate withdrew nomination in Tikamgarh and Sagar parliamentary constituencies. In this way, number of candidates for the first and second phases now stands at 260 including 118 for the first phase and 142 for the second.
The number of candidates left in fray in Morena is 17, Bhind 9, Gwalior 21, Guna 11, Sagar and Damoh 10 each, Tikamgarh 13, Khajuraho 17, Bhopal 28 and Rajgarh 6. Maximum 28 candidates in Bhopal and minimum 6 in Rajgarh lok Sabha constituencies will contest election during both the phases.
Meanwhile, on the first day of filing nominations for the third phase of lok Sabha elections in the state, 3 candidates filed their nominations on Saturday. Nominations were filed in 2 out of total 10 constituencies under this phase.
One candidate filed nomination in Ujjain and 2 in Indore. No nomination was filed for Vidisha Vidhan Sabha by-election to be held with third phase of lok Sabha elections.