UKRAINE -A total of 46 persons have applied to contest Ukraine’s presidential election scheduled for May 25, the Central Election Commission said on Monday as it finished the application processing.

“So far seven persons got registered and 12 others were denied the chance, while the rest 27 will have to wait till April 4 to see if they are allowed to enter the race,” the Commission said.

Presidential campaigns have already got underway in Ukraine since President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February, with former the Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko.

According to the Central Election Commission, businessman Petro Poroshenko is emerging as top contender.