Fourteen candidates have filed nominations papers for the Udhampur-Doda-Kathua Parliamentary constituency till Tuesday, the last date for filing them.
Since morning candidates and their supporters thronged thedeputy commissioner officer, Kathua Rohit Khajuria who is also the ReturningOfficer for Udhampur seat.
Ten candidates including former minister Choudhary Lal Singhand Harsh Dev Singh among eight others filed papers.
“BJP’s rebel and former member parliament from theconstituency, Choudhary Lal Singh filed papers from his newly launched DograSwabhimaan Sangathan Party, while former minister Harsh Dev Singh filed papersas nominee of Jammu Kashmir National Panther Party,” officials said.
Eight other candidates including some independents alsofiled papers.
Earlier, Union minister of state Jitendra Singh, who isseeking second term submitted papers as BJP candidate, son of veteran Congressleader Karan Singh and scion of royal Dogra family, Vikramaditya Singhsubmitted his nomination as Congress candidate, Retd Chief Engineer Tilak RajBhagat filed nominations as Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
As per a notification, scrutiny of papers would be conductedon March 27 and the last date of withdrawal of candidature is March 29 up to3.00 pm. The polling on seat will be held in second phase on April 18.
Meanwhile, the scrutiny of nominations was held for thefirst phase in which Jammu-Poonch seat will go to polls on April 11.
As per officials, after scrutiny of all 39 nominations, 25were found valid.
“Some nominations are not in proper format, few weresubmitted by covering candidates and double nominations were taken off,”officials said, adding, so far 25 candidates have remained in fray, while lastdate of withdrawal of candidature is March 28.