Arunachal Pradesh Assembly polls | 133 candidates in fray for 50 constituencies

A total of 133 candidates are in the fray for the 50 Assembly constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh, which will go to the polls on April 19, officials said

A total of 133 candidates are in the fray for the 50 Assembly constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh, which will go to the polls on April 19, officials said on March 31.

The ruling BJP has already won 10 seats of the 60-member assembly uncontested. Among those won are Chief Minister Pema Khandu, and two first-time candidates — Ratu Techi from Sagalee and Hage Appa of the Ziro-Hapoli seat.

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The BJP has fielded candidates in all the 50 seats that are going to the polls, while the opposition Congress is fighting in only 19 seats.

The Meghalaya-based NPP has fielded candidates in 20 seats, the NCP is fighting 14 seats, the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) is contesting 11 seats, the Arunachal Democratic Party has fielded candidates in four seats, while the Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) is fighting one seat.

Also, there are 14 Independent candidates in the fray, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pawan Kumar Sain said.

A total of 80 nominees are first-time candidates. The highest number of first-time candidates has been fielded by the Congress. Of its 19 candidates, 17 are new.