Mysuru/Mysore: The nomination papers of all the four candidates who have filed nominations for the MCC Ward 18 by-poll, are found valid, according to Returning Officer H.N. Shivegowda.

The by-poll will be held on Feb.9. The scrutiny of nomination papers was held at MCC Zone-4 office at Akashavani Circle here yesterday, during which the nominations of BJP candidate   B. V. Ravindra, Congress candidate R. Ravindrakumar, JD(S) candidate Swamy and Independent candidate M. Shivaprakash were found valid.

Tomorrow is the last date for the withdrawal of nomination papers and the polling will be held on Feb.9 from 7am to 5pm. The counting of votes will be taken up on Feb.11. The Ward has a total of 11,877 voters, with women (6,084 voters) outnumbering men.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders are said to be making efforts to convince M. Shivaprakash, who has filed his nomination as an independent candidate after he was denied the BJP ticket, to withdraw from the fray.