Patna, Oct 1 (IANS) The filing of nomination papers for the third phase of the Bihar assembly elections slated to be held on October 28 began on Thursday, an official said.

In the third phase, elections will be held in 50 of the 243 assembly constituencies.

The last date for filing nominations for the third phase is October 8. While the scrutiny of papers will take place on October 9, candidates can withdraw their nominations till October 12.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer R. Lakshmanan said here that the process for the five-phase assembly elections in Bihar began last month with filing of nomination papers for the first and second phases.

The constituencies going to the polls in the third phase are in Saran, Vaishali, Nalanda, Patna, Bhojpur and Buxar districts.

The main contest is between the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance and the grand alliance of Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress.

Bihar will elect a new 243-member assembly in staggered polls to be held between October 12 and November 5. The counting of votes will be done on November 8.