Shimla, Oct 24 : Eight candidates have been left in the fray for by-polls to two assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh, a state electoral official said here Saturday.

"Eight candidates are in the fray for the two assembly constituencies in the state after three aspirants withdrew their papers on the last day of withdrawal of nomination (Saturday)," state Chief Electoral Officer Anil Khachi told IANS.

The Rohru and Jawali seats fell vacant after legislators Virbhadra Singh and Rajan Sushant were elected to the Lok Sabha.

The Congress has fielded former minister Sujan Singh Pathania against Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Baldev Raj Chaudhary from Jawali in Kangra district. From Rohru in Shimla district, the BJP has pitted Khushi Ram Balnatah against Congress' Manjit Singh.

The polls will take place Nov 7. (IANS)