Election Commission reschedules bypolls in 14 Assembly constituencies across Kerala, Punjab and UP due to festivities

On Monday, the ECI said in a statement: “Subsequently, 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 bye elections on 13th November 2024, considering large scale social, cultural and religious engagements on that day which may cause inconvenience to large number of people, give rise to various logistic issues and may lead to reduced voters participation during the poll.”

The ECI rescheduled the bypolls in Palakkad (Kerala); Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, Gidderbaha and Barnala (Punjab); and Meerapur, Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Karhal, Sishamau, Phulpur, Katehari and Majhawan (Uttar Pradesh) to November 20. The date of counting of votes, November 23, would remain the same, the ECI said.

According to an ECI source, the poll panel decided on parties’ requests in view of the turnout. The Congress had written to the ECI that a large number of Palakkad electors would be engaged in the Kalpathi Rastholsavam festival from November 13 to November 15, the source said.

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP, BSP and RLD said electors would be travelling a few days ahead of Kartik Purnima on November 15. In Punjab, the Congress requested a change of polling due to the 555th Parkash Parv of Sri Guru Nanak Dev on November 15 and the Akhand Path to be organised from November 13 onwards.

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