EC reschedules Assembly by-polls for 13 seats in UP and Punjab, 1 in Kerala from Nov 13 to 20

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 4: The Election Commission on Monday rescheduled Assembly bye-elections to all 9 and 4 seats in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, respectively and 1 seat in Kerala from November 13 to November 20 in view of festivals, an official statement said.

In Kerala, the bye-election to Palakkad Assembly seat has been rescheduled while that for Chelakkara Assembly and Wayanad Lok Sabha seats will be held as scheduled earlier on November 13.

Parties including Congress, BJP, BSP and RLD had urged the poll body to reschedule the polls in view of various festivals, saying that it could impact voter turnout.

According to the Congress, a significant portion of the electorate in the Palakkad Assembly seat in Kerala will celebrate the festival of Kalpathi Rastholsavam from November 13 to 15.

In Punjab, the party had said, the 555th Prakash Parv of Sri Guru Nanak Dev will be celebrated on November 15 and an ‘akhand path’ will be organised from November 13 onwards.

BJP, BSP and RLD had said that in Uttar Pradesh, people travel for 3-4 days ahead of Kartik Purnima, which will be celebrated on November 15. (PTI)