1.   A few other political parties and independent candidates are contesting the polls, but the battle remains between the two dominant parties.

2.   A few other political parties and independent candidates are contesting the polls, but the battle lies between the two dominant parties.

3.   A total of six candidates are contesting the poll, but Ravalomanana is considered the only serious challenger to Ratsiraka.

4.   Analysts say the large number of parties to contest the poll this time means no single group is likely to form a government in its own right.

5.   At present only three political parties are allowed to contest polls, and campaigning is restricted to a few weeks before elections.

6.   Hun Sen is allowing him to contest the polls due to pressure from foreign countries whose financial aid he needs.

7.   Kaunda came out of retirement last year to contest the poll, but the government has made several attempts to thwart his comeback.

8.   Jayalalitha was barred from contesting the polls following her conviction in a bribery case.

9.   One of the amendments seeks to disqualify anyone who is not at least a second-generation Zambian from contesting presidential polls set for later this year.

10.   Stretching from the vast Ganges River plain to the soaring Himalayas, Uttar Pradesh has its share of unsavory characters contesting the polls.