Patna: The Election Commission of India (ECI) website confirms that following the strict review process completed on Saturday, 467 nomination papers were rejected, leaving a total of 1,976 candidates whose papers were found valid for the first phase of the Assembly elections.
The rejections have significantly altered the electoral landscape in several key seats. The disqualified candidates span various parties, including those from Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas) and the BSP, along with several rebel candidates from the ruling JD (U).
Major Blow to NDA in Madhaura Assembly Seat
The most notable setback occurred in the Madhaura assembly constituency in the Saran district, where the ruling NDA alliance faced an early loss.
The nomination of the NDA-backed LJP (Ram Vilas) candidate, Bhojpuri actress Seema Singh, was officially rejected. District election officials cited “deficiencies and technical errors” in her submitted documentation as the reason for the disqualification.
Furthermore, the nominations of several prominent independent and opposition candidates from Madhaura were also struck down, including:
- Altaf Alam Raju, a rebel JD (U) candidate and former district president, who had finished second in the last assembly elections.
- Aditya Kumar of the BSP.
- Independent candidate Vishal Kumar.
The mass disqualification has dramatically shrunk the field in Madhaura, with only nine candidates now remaining in the fray.
The final picture of the candidates contesting the first phase will be clear after the last date for the withdrawal of candidacies on Monday, October 20. Political strategists are now keenly watching to see which remaining candidates choose to withdraw, potentially further simplifying or complicating the electoral battles ahead.
