New Delhi: Chief Ministers Prem Kumar Dhumal, S C Jamir and Flinder Anderson Khonglam and HVC (Haryana Vikas Congress) leader Sukh Ram were among the notable candidates in the fray as battle-lines were drawn for the February 26 Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura.

Nearly 150 aspirants opted out of race in the four states as the deadline for withdrawal of nominations drew to close this evening.

Dhumal and senior Congress leader Virbhadra Singh, a strong contender for the Chief Minister's post, are among 408 candidates in the race for the battle of the ballot in Himachal Pradesh.

A maximum of 13 candidates are trying their luck in Arki constituency in Solan district followed by 11 in Jwalamukhi and 10 in Palampur.

S C Jamir (Congress), ex-Chief Ministers Hokishe Sema (BJP) and K L Chishi (NDM) and Congress defector and Nagaland People's Front (NPF) leader Neiphiu Rio are among 231 candidates left in the fray for Nagaland Assembly polls.

Sixty-one aspirants, including 51 dummies representing different political parties, withdrew from the contest on the last day of withdrawal of nominations.

The ruling Congress has fielded candidates in all the 60 constituencies, NPF in 54, BJP in 36, JD(U) in 13, NCP in six and Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) in 25 seats.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Flinder Anderson Khonglam, seeking re-election, has jumped into the electoral arena from Sohra constituency.

PTI