The nomination papers of an independent candidate for Muzaffarnagar bypolls were rejected by the election authorities as his name did not figure in the electoral rolls.
Shakil Ahmad's candidature was rejected yesterday during scrutiny when it was found that his name was missing from the voters' list, Returning Officer Rajender Singh said.
Ahmad's exclusion has reduced the number of candidates in fray for the bypolls to 19 which include Kapil Aggarwal (BJP), Gaurav Swrup (SP), Salman Saeed (Congress) and Pankaj Bhardwaj (Shiv Sena).
The Muzaffarnagar bye-election was necessitated due to the death SP MLA Chitranjan Swaroop.
The assembly bypoll is scheduled to be held on February 13.
