Campaign for the first phase of polling on September 5 in 145 Lok Sabha constituencies spread over 16 states and Union Territories and 343 assembly seats ended Friday evening. Polling for the first phase will be held for 12 constituencies in Andhra Pradesh, two each in Goa and Jammu & Kashmir, 26 in Gujarat, 10 in Haryana, 15 in Karnataka, 24 in Maharashtra, 13 in Punjab, 10 in Rajasthan, 19 in Tamil Nadu, seven in Delhi, one each in Andaman and Nicobar islands, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu and Pondicherry. Simultaneous polling will be held for 84 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, 144 in Maharashtra and 115 in Karnataka.

RJD gen-secy joins JD(U)

Janata Dal (U) in Bihar on Friday received a shot in the arm with ruling RJD general secretary Rambadab Rai joining the party. Rai, who had lost 1991 Lok Sabha poll as JD candidate from Balia constituency by a narrow margin, joined the party in the presence of Samata Party leader NitishKumar.

Gamang's wife in Cong Orissa list

Hema Gamang, wife of chief minister Girdhar Gamang, and Orissa Congress chief Hemanand Biswal figure in the list of six Lok Sabha candidates released by the AICC for Orissa and West Bengal on Friday. While Hema Gamang has been fielded from Koraput reserved constituency, Biswal will contest from Deogarh.

RJD names remaining nominees

RJD on Friday announced its candidates for the remaining three seats in Bihar, nominating Naina Rana, wife of one of the main accused in fodder scam cases, RK Rana, as also former MP, Kali Prasad Pandey. While Naina Rana was nominated for Khagaria, Pandeywill take on JD(U) nominee Raghunath Jha in Gopalgunj. Ashok Mahto has been fielded by the party for Balia.

EC okays party ads

The Election Commission on Friday held that newspapers were free to publish advertisements of political parties or candidates during the 48 hour period prior to close of polling. "There is no objection to the publication ofadvertisements by political parties or candidates in newspapers during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of poll," the commission said in its order.