Ranchi Congress candidate Pradeep Tulasyan after filing his nomination papers in Ranchi on Saturday. (Prashant Mitra)

Ranchi, Nov. 7: As many as eight important leaders including BJP state president Raghubar Das and former Assembly speaker Alamgir Alam will be in the fray in the first phase of the Assembly elections, filing of nominations for which ended today.

The other big names battling to save their seats in this phase include JD (U) state president Jaleshwar Mahto and Congress leader Stephen Marandi. This apart, it would also decide the fates of Lok Sabha losers and Assembly hopefuls Hemlal Murmu (JMM) and Furkan Ansari (Congress). The other two leaders whose luck would be tested are Pradeep Yadav (JVM) and C.P. Singh (BJP).

On the last day of filing nominations today, more than 300 candidates submitted their papers for the 30 constituencies that would go to poll on November 25. Yesterday, as many as 111 candidates had filed their nominations.

“We have just started receiving the list of candidates who have filed their nominations from various constituencies,” said Shalini Verma, public relations officer at the office of the state chief electoral officer.

Today in the state capital, accompanied by Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay, Congress candidate for Ranchi seat Pradeep Tulasyan filed his nomination papers at the SDO’s office. Sahay also accompanied party’s Hatia candidate Gopal Sharan Nath Shahdeo and Kanke candidate Suresh Baitha when they filed their papers.

“This poll is decisive for the party. We will work hard to pull off a good number of seats so that a strong government comes to power,” said Sahay while interacting with reporters later. Conceding that the contest would be tough for the party in most seats, Sahay hoped that the need for an efficient and clean government would help the party gain an upper hand. Sahay also expected that the pre-poll alliance with Babulal Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) would succeed in its goal.

The offices of the returning officers across the state, especially at Ranchi district collectorate, witnessed a huge rush of candidates today. Supporters flocked around the office, choking traffic that moved at snail's speed.

Independent candidate Javed Akhtar was arrested soon after filing his nomination as he was wanted in an old case and was reportedly absconding.

The scrutiny of nomination papers would take place on November 9 and November 11 is the last date of withdrawing nominations.

In Giridh, two people filed their papers for Giridih and Gandey seats. While Rudrakant Lal Das of Janta Dal (U) filed papers for Giridih, Minaxi Mahto of RJD filed from Gandey. Das is an advocate while Minaxi is the wife of Dr. Tulsi Mahto, deputy superintendent of RIMS.