Haryana state polls: Filing of nominations to start on September 20

Filing of nomination papers by candidates seeking to contest Haryana assembly elections, scheduled for October 15, will begin tomorrow.

A spokesman of Chief Electoral Officer said the last date of filing affidavits is September 27. Scrutiny of papers will be held on September 29 and candidates could withdraw their nominations till October 1.

Counting of votes would be held on October 19 and election process would be completed by October 22, the spokesman said adding that as per the directions of the Election Commission, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would be used in all 90 assembly seats.

Two level randomisation of EVMs would be carried out in the presence of representatives of political parties and other observers.

Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trial (VVPAT) system would be used for the first time in six assemblies namely Thanesar, Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, Rohtak and Gurgaon.

Haryana is set to witness a multi-corner contest with key players Congress, BJP, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP), BSP, Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC)-Jan Chetna Manch (JCM) alliance all set to cross swords in the battle of ballot.

Congress is ruling the state for the past two successive terms under the leadership of Bhupinder Singh Hooda.