EC to announce Presidential poll after by-elections

NEW DELHI, May 26: Though the 60-day countdown for the Presidential election began on May 24, the Election Commission (EC) has decided to issue the notification only after the by-elections. With the EC keen that the electoral college to elect the next President be complete before the poll, it has called for by-polls in three Parliamentary and nine Assembly seats on May 29.

According to Nirvachan Sadan sources once the results of the by-election are announced and formalities completed, the Commission will get down to the exercise of electing the eleventh President of the country. The notification could be issued as early as June 1, Commission sources said.

Under the terms of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, the Commission has to issue the notification “on or after the sixtieth day before the expiry of the term of office of the outgoing President.”