Tuesday, 03 May | PNS | Dehradun
Voting in the crucial Champawat Assembly bypoll will be held on May 31. The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for bypolls in Champawat and one Assembly constituency each in Odisha and Kerala on Monday.
According to the bypoll schedule, the last date of nominations is May 11 while May 12 is the day for scrutiny of nominations. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is May 17 after which the polling will be held on May 31. The votes cast will be counted on June 3.
The ECI has decided to use EVMs and VVPATs in the bypoll in all the polling stations. Adequate numbers of EVMs and VVPATs have been made available and all steps have been taken to ensure that the polls are conducted smoothly with the help of these machines. Withe issuance of the gazette notification on Monday, the model code of conduct will come into force with immediate effect in the district in which the Assembly constituency is located. The revised broad guidelines issued by the commission in January and directions issued after reviewing the Covid situation with the Ministry of Health and Family welfare will have to be observed by all stakeholders during the electoral process.
It is pertinent to mention here that having lost the Assembly election from Khatima constituency, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will be contesting the Champawat Assembly bypoll. Last month, the elected Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Champawat, Kailash Gehtodi had resigned from membership of the Assembly to make way for the chief minister. On the other hand, the Congress has stated that it will give a tough fight to the chief minister in the Champawat bypoll though it is yet to officially announce its candidate.
