The Election Commission of India (ECI) has rescheduled the assembly by-elections for Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Punjab from November 13 to November 20 due to various festivities. This comes after the national and state parties, including Congress, BJP, BSP, RLD and others, have requested the poll body. In the fear of low voter turnout due to festival season like Chhath Puja on November 8, the EC has rescheduled by-polls to Assembly Constituencies in three states.
ECI in its statement released on Monday, said, "Representations have been received in the Commission from various recognised National and State political parties (including BJP, INC, BSP, RLD) and some social organisations for change of date of poll in some Assembly Constituencies having by-elections on November 13, 2024, considering large scale social, cultural and religious engagements on that day which may cause inconvenience to large number of voters participation during the poll." However, the date of counting and result of by-polls to remained unchanged on November 23.
Meanwhile, voting for nine assembly seats in the Uttar Pradesh by-poll was scheduled for November 13, but now it will take place on November 20. Punjab byelections to four assembly constituencies, Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, and Barnala, were scheduled for November 13, but now they will be conducted on November 20.
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Earlier on October 15, the Election Commission had announced bye-election to 48 Assembly Constituencies and two Parliamentary Constituencies of 15 states – wherein the date of poll for all bye-elections, except in 16-Nanded PC of Maharashtra and 07-Kedarnath AC of Uttarakhand, was fixed on November 13. The counting of votes was scheduled on November 23.
Kerala: Palakkad constituency
Punjab: Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, Gidderbaha, Barnala
Uttar Pradesh: Meerapur, Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Karnal, Sishamau, Phulpur, Katehari, Majhawan