BYE-ELECTIONS TO FILL THE LOK SABHA AND THE STATE ASSEMBLY VACANCIES

PRESS NOTE

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The Election Commission has decided to hold bye-elections to fill the following casual vacancies in the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies.

LoK Sabha

West Bengal

12

Nabadwip (SC)

State Legislative Assemblies

S. No.	State	Name and no. of constituency
1.	Bihar	77-Babubarhi
2.	Gujarat	163-Songadh (ST)
3.	Haryana	78-Fatehabad
4.	Maharashtra	215-South Solapur
5.	Uttar Pradesh	228-Chiraigaon

The schedule for bye-elections will be as follows: -

1. Issue of notifications 25.04.2003 (Friday)

2. Last date for making nominations 02.05.2003 (Friday)

3. Scrutiny of nominations 03.05.2003 (Saturday)

4. Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures 05.05.2003 (Monday)

5. Date of poll 21.05.2003 (Wednesday)

6. Counting of votes 24.05.2003 (Saturday)

7. Date before which election shall be completed 28.05.2003 (Wednesday)

3.The Commission has decided to use electronic voting machines in the bye-elections from the above-mentioned constituencies.

4. In consonance with the past practice, the Commission has decided that Compulsory identification of voters will be made in the above-mentioned bye-elections. In order to ensure that no voter is deprived of his franchise, if his/her name figures in the Electoral Rolls, separate instructions are being issued to allow additional documents of identification of voters.

5. The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately. The Model Code of Conduct will apply to the whole of the district or districts in which part of Parliamentary constituency or any assembly constituency going for bye-election is included. This will be applicable to all Political Parties and to the State and Union Governments.