Flanked by large number of supporters, aspirants gathered outside offices on the penultimate day for filing papers, that coincided with the occasion.
Candidates were avoiding filing of papers during "Pitra Paksha", a period religiously not deemed fit to start up any work.
Key candidates who filed nomination today included Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who is contesting from Hamirpur.
Dhumal, who launched his election campaign immediately after filing papers, asked people to reject the "scam-tainted" Congress, and listed achievements of BJP government during past five years.
Accusing the UPA government of acting in an "arbitrary and autocratic" manner, Dhumal said that the party had taken a series of anti-people decisions, he asked people to "teach" Congress a "lesson".
