Fernandes enters fray as nominations pick up for round two

NDA convenor George Fernandes, Union Minister Raghunath Jha and former cricketer Kirti Azad were among a large number of aspirants who entered the fray on Wednesday as filing of nominations for the second leg of April-May Lok Sabha elections gathered steam today.

NDA convenor George Fernandes, Union Minister Raghunath Jha and former cricketer Kirti Azad were among a large number of aspirants who entered the fray on Wednesday as filing of nominations for the second leg of April-May Lok Sabha elections gathered steam today.

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As many as 60 hopefuls entered the race in Uttar Pradesh, 38 in Bihar and 32 in Karnataka on day five of submitting documents for the second phase involving 140 Parliamentary seats.

NDA convenor George Fernandes, denied nomination by the JD (U), threw his hat into the ring from old Muzaffarpur seat in Bihar as an independent.

Other notable candidates who entered the fray for the second round from the state were Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries Raghunath Jha, who is trying his luck from Valmikinagar constituency on the RJD ticket, and ex-cricketer Kirti Azad (BJP) from Darbhanga.

Prakash Jha (LJP) filed his papers for West Champaran seat and will lock horns with Congress’ nominee Sadhu Yadav, the estranged brother-in-law of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.