Jalandhar, January 23
As many as 30 candidates of various political parties and Independents filed their nominations papers for the 10 Assembly constituencies in this district on the fifth day of filing papers today.

A number of candidates, who represented major political parties, filed their papers along with their shadow candidates. No paper was filed by any candidate from the Nakodar constituency today.

Mr Avtaar Henry, the Congress candidate from Jalandhar (North), and his rival, Mr Krishan Dev Bhandari of the BJP, filed their papers at the office of the Returning Officer adjoining to Guru Gobind Singh Stadium.

Ms Gurkanwal Kaur, MLA, Mr Jagbir Brar of the SAD-BJP combine and Mr Kewal Singh Hazara of the Sanjha Morcha filed their papers from the Jalandhar (Cantonment) constituency.

Similarly, Mr Manoranjan Kalia of the SAD-BJP filed his papers, while Mr Tejinder Singh Bittu, Chairman, Improvement Trust, and Mr Ajay Chatrath of the Bhartiya Jan Shakti Party filed their papers from the Jalandhar (Central) constituency.

Mr Sarbjit Makkar and his wife Upinderjit Kaur Makkar filed their papers as SAD-BJP candidates from the Adampur constituency, while Chaudhary Santokh Singh, Congress MLA, filed their papers from Phillaur constituency.

Others who filed their papers today are: Jalandhar (South) Mr Paramjit Singh (Independent), Mr Chuni Lal Bhagat and Mohinder Pal, both from the SAD-BJP combine; Lohian: Mr Charandip Singh Kamboj and his brother Rajdip Singh Kamboj (Congress). Kartarpur: Mr Ram Parkash, Mr Parchottam Ram, both from the BSP, and Mr Mohinder Singh of the Democratic Bhartiya Samaj Party. Nurmahl: Mr Lekh Raj and Mr Jagdish Lal, both from the BSP. Phillaur: Mr Sohan Lal, BSP. Jalandhar Cantonment: Mr Amandip Singh (Congress), Mr Kapil Batra and Mr Rajan Batra, both from the BSP, Mr Kewal Singh and Mr Gurmit Singh, both from the CPI (ML). Jalandhar (North): Mr Rakesh Rathaur, SAD-BJP, and Mr Avtaar Singh Junior, Congress.

Hoshiarpur: With the filing of nomination papers by 18 candidates from eight segments of Hoshiarpur district today for assembly polls, the number of candidates has increased to 27 now.

Mr Lov Kumar Goldy, Ms Reena Sharma, both Congress, Mr Mohinder Pal Mann, Mr Jaswinder Mann, both BJP, Mr Rachpal Singh and Mr Gur Lal, both BSP, filed their nomination papers in Garhshankar segment. In Mahilpur segment, Mr Harjinder Kaur, BSP, in Hoshairpur segment Mr Gurdev Singh Saini, BSP, Mr Adarsh Gupta and Mr Pawan Kumar, both independents, in Shamchaurasi segment, Mr Om Parkash Jakhu, in Tanda, Mr Balbir Singh Miani, Ms Surinder Kaur, both SAD (B) and Supinder Kaur Cheema, Congress, In Dasuya segment, Mr Romesh Chander Dogra and Mr Arun Dogra, both Congress and in Mukerian segment, Mr Arunesh Kumar, BJP and Mr Gurdip Singh, Democratic Bhartiya Samaj Party have filed their nomination papers. None of the candidate has filed nomination paper from the Garhdiwala segment.

Nawanshahr: Following a strict order passed by the District Electoral Officer against the SAD candidate from Banga yesterday for violating code of conduct, none of the nine candidates who filed their nomination papers today flouted any regulations.

From Nawanshahr, SAD candidate Jatinder Singh Kariha went to file nomination papers taking just two vehicles. Others too, including Mr Nand Lal, SAD candidate from Balachaur, held small gatherings in front of their office but went on to file nomination with his covering candidate, Mr Ashok Kumar, and eight to 10 supporters. From Banga, BSP candidate Parveen Banga and his wife, Jaswinder Kaur Banga, have filed their nomination papers.

From Nawanshahr, others who filed nomination were Mr Kulwinder Singh from the CPI (ML), Mr Harjinder Singh from the NCP, Mr Vinod Kumar from the BSP and Mr Nachhatar Singh, the BSP covering candidate. In all, 15 candidates have filed nomination from the three Nawanshahr constituencies till date.

Phagwara: It was a day of 'show of strength' for both the sitting Congress MLA-cum-Chairman, Punjab Agro Foods Ltd, Mr Joginder Singh Mann, and BJP state vice-president and a former Punjab minister, Ch Swarna Ram, at the time of filing nomination papers from Phagwara (reserved) Assembly constituency.

Both the arch rivals came separately to the office of Phagwara SDM-cum-Returning Officer, Mr Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal.

Former BJP minister Ch Swarna Ram, along with hundreds of SAD-BJP activists, first assembled before the party's election office and then marched towards the SDM's office. Ch Swarna Ram filed his nomination papers as an official candidate of BJP while his nephew Kishori Lal filed his nomination papers as covering candidate.

On the other hand, Sardar Joginder Singh Mann organised an 'akhand path' and then filed two sets of his nomination papers. An interesting situation arose during the filing of nominations. Ms Mann forgot to bring her spectacles along and faced a lot of difficulty in reading out her oath. However, the SDM Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal came to her rescue.

He kept reading out the text of the oath to Ms Mann who repeated it after him. 

Pathankot, January 23
Mr Sucha Singh Langah, the SAD-BJP candidate from Dhariwal, was weighed against coins by his supporters at Nawakatra today.

Papers filed Mr Rumal Chand, a sitting MLA and Congress candidate from Narot Mehra, filed his nomination papers here on Tuesday, while Mr Romesh Tolla filed papers as Independent candidate from the Pathankot constituency.

Jalandhar, January 23
With a view to ensure fair and free polls, Mr A. Venu Parsad, the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer, has directed the police to confiscate illegal weapons in Jalandhar district.

Mr Parsad has also asked the police officials to ensure that there was no hoarding of liquor for its disbursal among people during polls. Apart from this, a crackdown on people indulging in distillation of illicit liquor has also been ordered so that no such contraband could be misused in polls.

Addressing a meeting of senior police and civil administration officials attended by Mr Naunihal Singh, SSP, Mr S.S. Marar, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ms Gurpreet Sapra, Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Mr Kanwaljit Singh, Deptuy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr Parsad said that no person would be allowed to break the law or to violate the poll code. The district administration has already invoked the Section 144 of the Cr PC.

“People are not supposed to carry around their licenced weapons. Moreover, the police have been directed to identify those persons, who were in the possession of illegal arms. Such arms have to be confiscated there and then and such persons, if any, would be arrested immediately. Even people with licenced weapons have been directed to deposit their arms and ammunition with their respective police stations,” said Mr Parsad.

Besides these arrangements, the police had also been asked to utilise services of the Police Control Room (PCR) team for implementation of the poll code and guidelines issued by the Chief Election Commission authorities.

Mr Parsad has also ordered removal of posters or banners of candidates from public buildings at the expence of respective candidates.

“The Defacement of Properties Act has been clamped on the district and it is to be implemented sternly. I alongwith other senior officers would be inspecting government buildings from time to time,” said Mr Parsad.

Nawanshahr, January 23
The festival of ‘Basant Panchami’ was organised here at the DAN College of Education today where a ‘havan yajna’ was performed.

Mr Prem Bhardwaj, Mr. Surinder Mohan Tejpal, president and secretary, respectively, of the local Arya Samaj, Mrs Balwinder Kaur, Principal of the college, among others, addressed the gathering and highlighted the importance of festivals, particularly the “Basant Panchmi’ and the values associated with it. The students presented cultural programme.

Students excel The students of the local Sandhu Institute of Nursing, Gurjit Kaur, Rupinder Kaur and Sandip Kaur, have excelled in the examination of GNM second year, informed Ms. Harpreet Kaur, Principal.