Chandigarh, Jan 25 (UNI) Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu and Finance Minister Surinder Singla were among 746 candidates who filed their nominations for the February 13 Assembly elections and Amritsar Parliamentary by-elections in Punjab on the last day of filing of papers today.

While 736 candidates filed their nominations for the elections to 117-member Assembly, 10 candidates submitted their papers for the Amritsar Lok Sabha by-poll. With today's nominations, the total number of aspirants for the assembly elections has gone up to 1612.

Mr Sidhu and Mr Singla filed their nomination papers as candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress respectively for the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat.

Both, accompanied by respective party workers and supporters, went in processions to the office of Returning Officer at Amritsar and submitted their papers. Twelve other candidates have also filed their nominations in the Parliamentary by-election, taking the number of contestants for the seat to 14.

Mr Sidhu had resigned from the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat following his conviction by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a road rage death case. However, the apex court stayed the conviction, paving the way for him to contest the by-election.

Ms Laxmi Kant Chawla (Amritsar Central), Madan Mohan Mittal (Nangal) and Master Mohan Lal (Pathankot) were among the prominent BJP leader who filed their nominations papers for assembly elections today. From Congress, Brahm Mohindra (Samana) was the senior leader to join the poll fray today.

The scrutiny will be held on January 27. The last date of withdrawal of candidatures is January 29. Polling will be held on February 13 from 0800 hours to 1700 hours.

The counting of votes for both Assembly and Amritsar Lok Sabha polls would take place on February 27. The election process will be completed before March two.

UNI