It will be a three cornered-fight in the Pengkalan Kubor by-election, a tiny state constituency in Kelantan's northernmost tip.

The election commission announced this at 10.20am, an hour after the nomination process began at the Tumpat land office.

While the main battle will be between BN and PAS, they will be joined by an independent candidate who is speculated to be the spoiler.

PAS candidate is Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim while BN has fielded Mat Razi Mat Ail

Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukary is the Independent.

Supporters, mainly from BN and PAS which have converged on opposite sides outside the nomination centre as early as 8am cheered upon the announcement.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also BN deputy president accompanied Mat Razi to the nomination centre.

Meanwhile PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu accompanied the Islamic party's candidate.

The by-election was triggered when the incumbent state assemblyperson Noor Zaidi Omar, 57 passed away from cancer.

Polling day is Sept 25.

In the last general election, Noor Zaidi defeated PKR's Saharun Ibrahim with a 1,736-vote majority. Izat was also an independent candidate during that contest.

However PKR has surrendered the seat to PAS, which has a stronger election machinery there, in the hope of wresting the seat from BN.