Ranchi, Dec 3 (IANS): The ruling BJP and opposition Congress candidates on Monday filed their nomination papers for the upcoming bypoll in Jharkhand's Kolebera assembly constituency.

The polling is scheduled for December 22.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Basant Soreng filed the nomination paper in Simdega district. He was accompanied by former Minister and BJP legislator Bimla Pradhan.

"I belong to tribal community. People of Kharia tribe are in large numbers in Kolebera assembly constituency," he said after filing the paper and expressed the confidence that he would win the bypoll.

Congress candidate Biksal Kongari filed the nomination in the presence of state Congress in-charge R.P.N. Singh, and state party president Ajay Kumar.

Jharkhand Party candidate Menon Ekka, wife of former Minister Enos Ekka, has also filed the nomination paper.

The assembly seat fell vacant following the life sentence awarded to Enos Ekka in a case pertaining to the murder of a school teacher.