The Indian Express                 24.05.2013

Panchkula MC polls: 52 candidates withdraw

Fifty two people withdrew their nominations on Thursday for the Panchkula Municipal Corporation (PMC) general elections, scheduled to be held next month. Of the 215 people who had filed their nominations, a majority of them withdrew as covering candidates while a few independent candidates also joined that list leaving the total number of candidates in the poll fray at 163.

Returning officer, R K Singh, said that none of the candidates contesting on a party ticket withdrew their nominations and it was mostly the independent candidates and covering candidates who conveyed their decision to not contest the elections. The process to withdrawal of candidates continued throughout the Thursday with the Mini Secretariat teeming with people. With withdrawals taking place, contesting candidates said that they will continue with the door-to-door visits to woo voters.

A former councillor, Lily Bawa, said that she has already launched a door-to-door campaign in her seat — ward no 14.

"I have already started the door-to-door campaign and now with withdrawals complete the campaigning pressure will be mor"," she said. From ward no 1, one candidate withdrew the nomination, officials said.