149 candidates in fray for by-polls on 11 UP Assembly seats

LUCKNOW: With the last date for filing nomination for by-polls on 11 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh ending today, a total of 149 candidates are in the fray.

While the maximum of 31 candidates are contesting from the Lucknow East seat, minimum number of six candidates have filed nominations for Charkhari seat, Additional Chief Electoral Officer R K Pandey said.

Of the 11 seats, Thakurdwara, Saharanpur, Charkahari, Bijnore, Hamirpur, Lucknow East, Sirathu, Khiri, Balha and Noida fell vacant after BJP legislators of these seats won Lok Sabha elections, while Rohaniya seat fell vacant due to Apna Dal leader Anupriya Patel's resignation after being elected as an MP.

Pandey said the nominations will be scrutinised tomorrow, while August 30 is the last date for the withdrawal of nominations.

For the lone Lok Sabha seat of Mainpuri, 14 candidates have filed their nominations, he said.

The seat fell vacant due to the resignation of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, who also won from the Azamgarh seat.

While SP and Congress are contesting all 11 Assembly seats, BSP is not contesting elections, which will be held on September 13.