Assembly bye-elections in five states on Feb 22

NEW DELHI, JAN 21: In a surprise announcement, the Election Commission today declared bye-elections to eleven Assembly seats in five stat...

NEW DELHI, JAN 21: In a surprise announcement, the Election Commission today declared bye-elections to eleven Assembly seats in five states to be held on February 22.

Announcing that the model code of conduct would come into force in the districts where these constituencies are located, Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill said the notification for the bye-elections would be issued on January 29. The last date for filing nominations will be February 5. The nominations would be scrutinised on February 6, and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures would be February 8.

With the polls to be held on February 22, the counting of votes would take place on February 24, Gill said. The constituencies going to polls are Khallari and Burhampur in Madhya Pradesh, Jetpur and Jodiya in Gujarat, Khuwbung in Mizoram, Sardarpura, Kumbalgarh, Bhim and Mundwa in Rajasthan and Hauz Khas and Nangloi Jat in Delhi.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in Kumbalgarh, Bhim, Mundwa and Nangloi Jat. Polling hadbeen scheduled to be held in these constituencies on November 25 last year but was adjourned following the death of candidates from the constituencies. Bye-elections to Hauz Khas constituency follows the resignation of the BJP candidate Sushma Swaraj.