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Over 300 nominations filed in Punjab

Deputy CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, State Congress chief Shamsher Singh Dullo submit papers

CHANDIGARH: At least 317 candidates, including Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, state Congress chief Shamsher Singh Dullo and opposition SAD legislator Gaganjit Singh Barnala, recently booked in a rape case, on Tuesday filed their nominations for the February 13 Punjab Assembly polls.

The total number of nominations filed so far has gone up to 489, an election office spokesman said. The last date for filing nominations is January 25. Scrutiny would take place on January 27 and candidates can withdraw their names till January 29.

Bhattal filed her nomination from her traditional Lehra constituency in Sangrur district seeking re-election and Dullo filed his papers for Khanna Assembly constituency securing nomination in place of his wife Harbans Kaur, who was the sitting legislator.

Gaganjit, arrested by Chandigarh police on charge of raping his maid and later bailed out, filed his nomination papers from Dhuri.

Former Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee President Jagir Kaur filed her papers for Bhulath Assembly constituency in Kapurthala district.

Former BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia filed his papers from Jalandhar, CPI nominee Hardev Arshi from Budhlada in Bhatinda district and SAD candidates Gurdev Singh Kanjhla, Mantab Singh Brar and Nirmal Singh Kahlon from Sherpur, Kot Kapura and Fatehgarh Churian Assembly constituencies respectively.

Tej Parkash Singh and Gurkanwal Kaur, son and daughter respectively of former Chief Minister Beant Singh filed their nominations for Payal and Jalandhar Cantt constituencies seeking re-election as Congress candidates.

A number of senior Congress leaders, including PWD Minister Partap Singh Bajwa (Kahnuwan), Education Minister Harnam Dass Johar (Ludhiana West), Ramesh Chander Dogra (Dasuya), Harbans Lal (Sirhind), Romesh Dutt (Anandpur Sahab) and Razia Sultan (Malerkotla), Santokh Singh (Phillaur) filed their nomination papers seeking re-election while noted industrialist Kewal Singh Dhillon filed his papers from Barnala.

BSP nominee Surinder Arjun filed his nomination for the Amritsar Lok Sabha by-election, which was necessitated following the resignation of BJP MP and cricketer-turned- politician Navjot Singh Sidhu after his conviction in a road rage case.

The state is set to witness a direct contest between ruling Congress led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and SAD-BJP alliance led by former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Chautala campaigns

Indian National Lok Dal president Om Prakesh Chautala on Tueday claimed that people of Punjab have made up their mind to ``sweep out Congress from power''.

Addressing a public meeting in favour of SAD candidate Ajaib Singh at Ghannaur Assembly segment adjoining Ambala district, the former Haryana Chief Minister alleged the Congress is responsible for poverty, corruption, rising prices in the country. - PTI

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Over 300 nominations filed in Punjab

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