The notification for the October 13 Assembly elections will be issued on Friday but the real action will not begin for a while as most parties are adopting a wait-and-watch policy to minimise defections from their rank and file. With Friday heralding the acceptance of nomination forms from candidates, no political party except the third front has declared its official candidates for the eight assembly segments in the city.

What is clearly on the cards is an effort by all to keep a tight grip on fielding candidates so that there is little time for rebels to crop up or give opportunities for poaching of their candidates by other parties.

The tussle for tickets has peaked in all parties with contenders pulling out all stops to get party nomination. In fact, some wannabe legislators are camping in Delhi to get the blessings of the high command.

NCP spokesperson Ankush Kakade said almost all the political parties are adopting the same strategy - of wait and watch - to ensure that they do not lose their disgruntled leaders to other political parties. “The candidates’ list will be in three phases — the first comprising ministers who are the unchallenged contenders; the second phase of those who do not have many opponents within the party; the final list would include those from the assembly segment where there is likelihood of rebellion,” he said.

He said the process of bringing out the candidates’ list would continue till the last date of filing nominations.

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