New Delhi: The filing of nominations for 88 parliamentary seats across 12 states, including Kerala, in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections began on Thursday.
The last date for filing nomination papers for this phase is April 4.

However, under the provisions of the Negotiable Instruments Act, candidates cannot file nominations on the public holidays of March 29, 31 and April 1. 

The notification for the second phase of the parliamentary polls -- to be held on April 26 -- was issued by the Election Commission on Thursday.

On April 5, the nomination papers will be scrutinised in all states and Union Territories, except Jammu and Kashmir. In Jammu and Kashmir, the scrutiny will be held on April 6.

Polling in one part of the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency will also be held during this phase. The notification for elections in the Outer Manipur constituency was included in the gazette notification issued for the first phase on March 20.

Fifteen Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency assembly segments will go to the polls in the first phase on April 19. Thirteen assembly segments of the constituency will go to the polls on April 26.

The states and Union Territories going to the polls in the second phase are Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, apart from one part of the Outer Manipur seat. 
(With PTI inputs)