SHIMLA: As many as 126 candidates were left in the fray for the 34-ward Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) election after 28 of them withdrew their nominations on the last day today.
The polling is slated for June 16 and counting of votes will take place on June 17.
The ruling Congress, which had decided not to declare any official candidate and allowed a free run to its workers to contest the polls, changed its strategy at the last moment and declared the list of officially-backed candidates.
The BJP and the CPI (M), the other two main contenders, have already announced their candidates. As many as 17 seats, including three for scheduled caste, have been reserved for women, three for scheduled caste men and only 14 seats are unreserved.
The post of Mayor has been reserved for scheduled cast woman and confined to three wards. The elections are not being contested on party symbols and deputy Commissioner allotted symbols to candidates on his own.