Barring those of NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind and Opposition-backed Meira Kumar, the nominations of all the Presidential candidates were rejected on Thursday.

Including Kumar and Kovind, about 95 persons had filed their nominations. According to the sources in the Lok Sabha secretariat, except for the two main contenders, the nominations of the rest were rejected as none of them were proposed and supported by the required number of members of the electoral college.

In the scrutiny process initiated on Thursday, the nominations were rejected, they added.

At least 50 members of an electoral college as proposers and endorsed by as many, should sign the Presidential candidate’s nomination, according to the rules. The electoral college comprises of the MPs of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and MLAs of all legislative assemblies. The Secretary General of the Lok Sabha is the returning officer for the Presidential Election, this time.

SUPRAJA