Notification issued for last phase of Lok Sabha polls on 12 May

New Delhi: Notification was today issued for the last phase of Lok Sabha polls to be held on 12 May in 41 constituencies spread over three states, including in Varanasi from where BJP’s PM nominee Narendra Modi is contesting. In Uttar Pradesh, 18 seats will go to polls in the last phase while in West Bengal elections will be held in 17 seats. [caption id=“attachment_1484753” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Ibnlive[/caption] In Bihar, six constituencies will go to polls on 12 May. Key seats in the last phase include Varanasi, where Modi is pitted against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and Congress’ Ajay Rai. Modi is also contesting from Vadodara in his home state of Gujarat. In Azamgarh in UP, SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav is among the candidates. He is a sitting MP from Mainpuri. This time, he is contesting from the two seats. In Gorakhpur, sitting BJP MP Adityanath is fighting to retain his seat. BJP MPs have won from Gorakhpur in eastern UP since 1989. Other key seat in this phase includes Vaishali in Bihar from where sitting RJD MP and former Union minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh is seeking another term. EC had recently ordered transfer of officials of districts falling in some of the constituencies going to poll in this phase fall. For the 12 May polls, candidates can file their nominations till 24 April, while scrutiny of the papers is scheduled on 25 April. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is 28 April. PTI