The last day of the shradh period weighed heavy on the first day of filing nomination for the Haryana Assembly elections on Friday.

Like elsewhere in the state, not a single candidate — be it Independent or from any political party — turned up to file the papers in Panchkula and Kalka.

“All arrangements for the day were in place and we did not even take a lunch break, but no one turned up. Barricades have been put up around the office so that no candidate could come with more than three vehicles and five supporters. Arrangements for videography of the process were made too and duty magistrates and nodal officials were in attendance. Since today was the last day of the shradhs, we are expecting many candidates on Saturday,” said Kalka Sub-Divisional Magistrate Yogesh Kumar.

Similar was the scene in Panchkula, where officials of the SDM’s office kept waiting for candidates but no one turned up. SDM Rajpal Singh said: “While the religious factor is one of the major reasons for the zero per cent turnout, another reason can also be the fact that many parties are yet to finalise the list of their candidates.”

Talking to Newsline, INLD city president Manoj Aggarwal said: “Shradh was the major factor. Most candidates have consulted their family priests who have given them an auspicious time to file their nominations.

Accordingly, our Kalka candidate Pradeep Chaudhary will file his nominations on September 22.”

While the last date for the filing of papers is September 25, nominations will not be accepted on September 20 and 21, which are holidays.