Congress's tally of uncontested seats rose to seven after the nomination papers of BJP candidate Lhakpa Tsering from Dirang assembly constituency were found to be invalid upon scrutiny on Monday. This cleared the deck for Congress nominee Phurpa Tsering to be elected unopposed from Dirang, election office sources said here on Tuesday.
Tourism minister Pema Khandu (Mukto), rural development minister Tanga Byaling (Nacho), Punji Mara (Taliha), Bamang Felix (Nyapin), first-timer Mama Natung (Seppa West) and Takam Pario from Palin in remote Kurung Kumey district have already been declared winners as there were no opposing candidates in these constituencies.
Meanwhile, 173 candidates are in the fray for election to the 60-member state assembly and 11 candidates have filed their papers to contest the two Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Congress has fielded candidates in all 60 assembly constituencies. BJP has opted to field candidates in 47 seats, People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) in 19 seats, NCP in 10 seats, first-timer Naga People's Front (NPF) in 11 seats and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in a single seat. Twenty-five independent candidates, including five women, are also standing for election.
The Arunachal West parliamentary constituency is all set to witness a multi-pronged contest with eight candidates-Takam Sanjoy of Congress, BJP's Kiren Rijiju, PPA's Jalley Sonam, AAP candidate Habung Payeng, Taba Taku of Lok Bharati, Trinamool Congress nominee Gumjum Haider, Gicho Kabak of NCP and independent candidate Subu Kechi-throwing their hats in the ring.
The candidates for the Arunachal East parliamentary constituency include Union minister of state for minority affairs Ninong Ering (Congress), former BJP MP Tapir Gao and PPA nominee Wangman Lowangcha.
Altogether 7,53,170 voters, including 3,77,272 women, will vote in 2,158 polling stations across the state.
The Trinamool Congress, which had won five seats during the 2009 assembly polls, has failed to field a single candidate from any assembly constituency this time. The party's five MLAs and four NCP members had merged with Congress, while another NCP member, Laeta Umbrey, had joined PPA.
Meanwhile, sources said demonstrative 'poll booth-like scenarios' will be set up throughout the state on April 2 to help voters understand how to cast their vote on two different electronic voting machines (EVMs), one each for the Lok Sabha and the assembly elections.
The Election Commission has handed over the investigation of the March 22 ransack at the Koloriang DC's office to a special investigation team (SIT) for a speedy probe, sources added.
