118 candidates left in fray for third phase of Lok Sabha elections

Bhopal: As many as one 118 candidates are in the fray for third phase of Lok Sabha elections to be held on April 24 in 10 Lok Sabha constituencies. Indore has the maximum 22 candidates and Dhar minimum 7 candidates. In other constituencies, Vidisha and Ujjain have 12 candidates each, Dewas 11, Mandsaur and Khandwa 14 each, Ratlam 10 and Khargone and Betul have 8 candidates each. By-election to Vidisha Vidhan Sabha constancy will also be held along with Lok Sabha elections in the third phase in which 11 candidates are in the fray.

Of the 10 constituencies, Dewas and Ujjain are reserved for scheduled castes and Ratlam, Dhar, Khargone and Betul for scheduled tribes. The same number of 118 candidates had also contested in Lok Sabha elections 2009.
Apart from 32 candidates of 6 nationally recognised political parties, 51 candidates of 20 other registered parties and 35 independents are also in the fray in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections. Bharatiya Janata Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Indian National Congress have fielded 10 candidates each and Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) one each. Except Indore, less than 16 candidates are in the fray in remaining constituencies.

Among other registered political parties, Aam Aadmi Party has fielded 10 candidates, Bahujan Mukti Party 9, Prajatantrik Samadhan Party and Samata Samadhan Party 4 each, Bahujan Sangharsh Dal and Gondwana Ganatantra Party 3 each, All India Forward Block, Jay Mahabharat Party, Samajwadi Party and Samta Party 2 each and Adimjati Mukti Sena, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, Akhil Bharatiya Vikas Congress Party, Bharatiya Minorities Suraksha Mahasangh, Janata Dal United, Minorities Democratic Party, Rashtriya Ahinsa Manch, Republican Party of India, Samajwadi Jan Parishad and Shiv Sena have fielded one candidate each.
Among the 35 independents, 12 are in the fray in Indore Lok Sabha constituency while no candidate is in the fray in Dhar. Besides, 3 independents each are in the fray in Dewas and Ujjain, 6 in Mandsaur, 2 each in Vidisha, Khargone and Ratlam, 4 in Khandwa and one in Betul.