Trying its luck for the first time in the state, the Aam Aadmi Party has declared candidates for four seats. It may declare its candidates for the remaining 64 seats by Thursday, said AAP state incharge and Punjab minister Harjot Bains.
The BJP has yet to release a list of candidates. The newly reconstituted Central Election Committee of the BJP met for the first time on Tuesday to finalise the party’s candidates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, and BJP president J P Nadda attended the meeting, among others.
Election on Nov 12, results on Dec 8
The notification for the state elections was issued on October 17 and the last date for the filing of nominations is October 25. Scrutiny of papers will be held on October 27 and the last date for the withdrawal of papers is October 29.
The voting for the 68 assembly seats in the hill state is scheduled to take place on November 12 while the counting will take place on December 8.
In the assembly, the BJP currently has 45 members, followed by 20 of the Congress. There are two Independents and one CPI(M) MLA in the assembly.
A direct contest between the BJP and the Congress is likely in the state, where the Aam Aadmi Party will also be trying its luck.
As of now, 55,74,793 people are eligible to vote in the polls.
(With inputs from agencies)