No candidate had filed his papers on the first day of nominations yesterday.
According to official sources, eighteen candidates from CPI(M), one each from CPI and RSP and one independent candidate filed their nominations during the day.
Prominent among them were Information and Culture minister Anil Sarkar, Forest and Industries minister Jiten Chowdury, Tribal Welfare Minister Aghore Debbarma and Minister for Jail Manindra Reang, sources said.
Sarkar, who has been a member of the Assembly since 1972 was the senior-most among the contestants.
CPI-M sources said many more of its candidates will file nominations tomorrow.
