gaddam@remus.rutgers.edu (Surekha Reddy Gaddam) (04/27/91)
The first phase of election process for the parliamentary and eight assemblies is over with the closure of nominations yesterday. According to initial reports a record number of 22,000 candidates have filed their nominations for 537 parliamentary and 1456 assembly constituencies in seven states and the union territory of Pondi. Scrutiny of nominations will take place today ( saturday ) and the last day for withdrawal will be the 29th of this month, after which the stage will be finally set for the polls all over the country except in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir. In the capital, the cong(I) is fielding the screen idol Rajesh Khanna against the BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani from the New Delhi constituency. In the eastern state of Assam, five former chief ministers are among 600 candidates who have submitted their nominations. In the canteral state of MP, 950 nominations have been filed for 40 parliamentary seats. Reports form Lucknow indicate that over 8000 candidates are in fray fro the 425 assembly constituencies and 1100 nominations for the 85 parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. In the southern state of Karnatak, 748 candidates have submitted their papers for the 28 parliamentary constituencies. In another southern state of Kerala 242 nominations have been filed for the 20 parliamentray seats and 1400 for the assembly constituencies. The veteran leaders of BJP Mr.L.K.Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee are contesting for the lower house of parliament form two places each. While Mr.Vajpayee is contesting from Vidhisha(M.P) and Lucknow, Mr.Advani is in the field from Gandhinager and New Delhi. The PM Mr.CS has urged the political parties which have decided to boycott elections in the northern state of Punjab(including Cong(I)) to reconsider their decision. He was addressing a delegation of the Delhi Shri Guru Singh sabha at his residence in New Delhi yesterday. Meanwhile the BJP said the common strategy to contest elections in Punjab has become doubtful as the Cong(I) has opted out. The minister of state for Mr.Subodhkant Sahay has expressed the satisfaction with the poll security arrangements in Punjab. Speaking to newsmen in Chandigarh, he said fencing and lighting of the bordering areas of Punjab will be completed by the end of next month much before polls. Three persons were killed and eight injured in a powerful bomb explosion in the busy cannaught place area of New Delhi last evening. The PM Mr.CS visited the injured in the hospital. The soviet union and Afghanistan have criticized Pakistan for aiding and abetting Afghan rebels and termed Pak's intervention in that region as gross violation of Genvea agreement. The Afghan foreign minister Mr.Abdul Wakhil met his Soviet counterpart. The Afghan foreign minister produced numerous clues of Pak's direct support to the Afghan rebels. Indian Airlines is introducing of its flights form Thursday next. In Bihar, the central observers of the election commission have already reached Patna to go to their respective places to ensure free and fair elections. The President Mr.Venkatarman has suggested to the developing countries to pool their scientific and technical expertise for mutual benefit. He was addressing the vietnamese students and technocrats who were trained in India in the past several years. He said developing countries have enough expertise in science and technology to step up their living conditions. The president offered India's scientific and technical capabilites in the field of agrl, industry and peacuful use of atomic energy to any developing country without any string attached. ecently a new concept has been introduced in India - the concept of the Night Bazar. This market functions only on Saturday and Sunday between 8:pm and 1:am. It was introduced in Madras by V.G.Paneerdas. Here is another partial list of candidates from DELHI filed their nomination papers today. Rajesh Khanna(cong I) is contesting against L.K.Advani(BJP) from New Delhi. L.K.Advani is also contesting from Gandhi Nager - Gujrat Manju Mohan - JD-S - New Delhi Rabi Ray ( the house speaker ) Kendra Para - Orissa Hari Kishan Lal Bhagat - Delhi east Romesh Bhandari - South Delhi Dharam pal Shastry - Karol Bagh Sajjan Kumar - outer Delhi ( cong I ) Jagdish Tytlor - Delhi Sadar Kishorilal - (JD) - Chandni Chauk J.P.Agarwal - CongI - Chandni Chauk Shila Kaul - Rai Bareiley - Cong(I) some assembly seats Bhajan Lal - Adampur - Haryana Maulayam Singh Yadav - Jaswant nager M.Karunanidhi - Madras Harbor Jayalalitha(AIADMK) 1. Kangeyam 2. Barur Finally in Punjab Harmohan Dhawan(JD) is contesting from Chandigarh parliament constituency. As reported earlier, Cong(I) is not participating in Punjab elections. The Janata Dal is forging alliance with CPIM. The former external affairs minister Mr.Narsimha Rao is not contesting this time, so as the Telugu Desam leader Mr.N.T.Rama Rao( for parliament). Today was the last day for filing nominations. Narotham Reddy.