The scrutiny of nomination papers filed by candidates for contesting in the first phase poll for the Manipur Legislative Assembly was taken up on February 9.
Voting in the first phase poll in 38 assembly segments spread over five districts will take place on February 27. After the filing of nomination papers ended on February 8, scrutiny of nomination papers was taken up on February 9.
A total of 176 candidates filed their nomination papers to contest the elections from the 38 Manipur assembly seats in the first phase. Only one nomination paper filed by an independent candidate in Churachandpur district was found invalid during the scrutiny.
As such 175 candidates cleared the scrutiny. However, the exact number of candidates to be in the fray will be known only after February 11, the last date for withdrawal of candidature for the first phase poll.
For the 13 assembly segments in Imphal West district, at the end of scrutiny of nominations of candidates, nominations of all 56 candidates were found valid.
Scrutiny of nomination papers was conducted at separate halls inside Imphal West DC office complex in the presence of concerned returning officers, officials, candidates and their agents.
The scrutiny for all the candidates who filed nominations for the 10 assembly segments in Imphal was taken up by returning officers concerned at the district election office (DEO, Imphal East. All the 45 candidates passed the scrutiny.
Of the 35 candidates who filed their nomination papers in Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts where the papers were taken up for scrutiny on February 9, one was found invalid. Now, 34 candidates are in the fray for the six assembly segments from Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts as they have cleared the scrutiny.
Official sources said that the nomination of one candidate – independent candidate Lunkhosei in respect of Saikot (ST) assembly constituency was found invalid.
All the 18 candidates who filed their nomination to contest the ensuing poll in the three assembly segments cleared the scrutiny at the Kangpokpi DC office complex.
