Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 17: Filing of nominations for the upcoming assembly election will begin from today. As parties will start issuing B forms and candidates begin to hand over nomination papers, the office of the state chief election commissioner has made elaborate preparations under the guidance of Central Election Commission.

The officials have made arrangements to receive nomination papers, scrutinize them, and allow withdrawals thereof. The commission has trained the officials about the legal intricacies of filing of nominations, how to find solutions in case of legal complications, protocol to be followed by candidates filing nominations, and steps to be taken by the officials accepting nomination papers etc. The commission has clearly told the electoral officials not to give rise to confusions.

April 24 will be the last date for filing of nominations. Nomination papers can be filed on all working days except holidays, from 11 am to 3 pm. The commission, which was busy revising voters list, deploying of election staff, providing training and creating awareness among voters, has now begun to concentrate on nominations, election campaigns by parties and candidates, compliance with code of conduct, managing of law and order situation and ensuring smooth polling.

The nominations will be scrutinized on April 25, and April 27 is the last day for withdrawal of nominations. Polling will take place on May 12, counting of votes will be undertaken on May 15, and the entire assembly election process will conclude on May 18 as per the schedule announced by the commission.

The respective electoral officers of the districts will issue notification about the election on Tuesday morning. This will set the ball of election process rolling. A clear picture about the candidates remaining in the fray will emerge on April 27 at the end of time given for withdrawal of nominations. Polling will take place in all 224 constituencies in the state simultaneously from 7 am to 5 pm on May 12.

Congress, which has published list of 218 candidates so far, and BJP, which brought out two lists containing 154 names, will be fighting out for supremacy in the election. JD(S), which published list of 125 candidates in February itself, is yet to come out with names of other candidates.

Congress, BJP and JD(S) have also begun the task of issuance of B forms to candidates. It is said that Congress party will begin issuance of B form in a resort in the outskirts of the city from Tuesday.