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Journalism of Courage
The Election Commission (EC) finally ended the suspense on Tuesday and announced June 23 as the date for the by-election to the Mandi Parliamentary constituency. The bypoll has been necessitated following Chief Minister Virbhadra Singhs resignation,who quit the Parliamentary seat to take charge as the states chief minister.
The process for filing of nominations,as per the EC notification,will begin on May 29. June 5 will be last date for filing of nomination papers and scrutiny will be held on June 6. The last date for withdrawal will be June 8. The counting of votes will be held on June 27, said Narinder Chauhan,the states Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).
He added that with the announcement of the poll schedule,the model code of conduct has also come into force in six districts: Shimla,Mandi,Kullu,Chamba,Kinnaur and Lahual-Spiti. It will remain in effect till June 30.
The by-election is now being seen as a test of Virbhadras mass appeal and the Congress governments performance in the past four months. His wife,Pratibha Singh is almost a certainty for the Congress ticket while the BJP has short-listed three names Jairam Thakur (sitting MLA),Ajay Rana and Ram Swaroop.
State BJP chief Satpal Satti said the party high command will take the decision.
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