Gangtok:
A total of 147 candidates are in the fray for 32 constituencies in Sikkim as five nominations have been withdrawn, an official said on Saturday.
The parliamentary elections in the Himalayan state will take place on April 19.
Chief Minister PS Tamang and former five-term CM Pawan Kumar Chamling are contesting the elections.
One independent candidate withdrew his name from the Sangha seat in Gangtok district. A total of 44 candidates are contesting in nine constituencies in the district.
Soreng district with four assembly segments, including the Soreng-Chakung seat in which Tamang is a candidate, has 16 nominees as none of the candidates have withdrawn their nominations.
In Pakyong District, two candidates have withdrawn their nominations from Chujachen and Namcheybung assembly seats, and now 24 are in the fray on five seats, with Tamang and Chamling being prominent nominees from Rhenock and Namcheybung constituencies.
An independent candidate withdrew the nomination from the Yangang Assembly seat in Namchi, leaving 29 candidates including Chamling contesting from Poklok Kamrang. There are seven constituencies in the district.
In Gyalshing district, one candidate has withdrawn the nomination from the Yuksam Tashiding assembly segment and now there are 25 candidates in the fray in four constituencies.
There was no withdrawal in Mangan district, where there are nine candidates contesting three constituencies.
According to the Office of Chief Electoral Officer, fourteen candidates are in the fray for the lone Lok Sabha seat at the end of the withdrawal candidature.
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