"Altogether 47 candidates have filed their papers till the last day for filing nominations for the first phase of polls today. They will be scrutinised tomorrow, while the last day of withdrawal is on March 29," assistant CEO Amitjyoti Bhattacharya said here.
Alongwith Bhutia and Ahluwalia, there were altogether four contestants each from Trinamool Congress, BJP, Congress and BSP, two from the CPI(M), one each from the RSP and Forward Bloc and 19 from other recognised political parties, besides eight Independents, who filed their nomination.
Bhattacharya said the Commission has issued symbols today for all 19 recognised political parties contesting the state's first phase of polls on April 17.