Polling for Assembly constituencies in Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab, and West Bengal; counting on June 23
New Delhi [India], May 25: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for upcoming bye-elections in four states—Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab, and West Bengal. Polling will be held on June 19 and the counting of votes will take place on June 23.
The bye-elections are being held to fill vacancies left by the demise or resignation of MLAs in these constituencies. In Gujarat, elections will be held in Kadi and Visavadar, following the passing of Karsanbhai Punjabhai Solanki and the resignation of Bhayani Bhupendrabhai Gandubhai.
Kerala will see a bye-election in Nilambur, where PV Anvar resigned in January to become the convenor of the Kerala unit of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Punjab’s Ludhiana West constituency will vote to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Gurpreet Bassi Gogi. In West Bengal, elections will be held in Kaliganj to fill the seat left by Nasiruddin Ahamed, who died of cardiac arrest in February.
The ECI recently issued new directives to improve polling day arrangements and enhance voter convenience. Voters will now have access to mobile deposit facilities outside polling stations, addressing concerns about mobile phone usage and security. Mobile phones will only be allowed within 100 meters of the polling station in switched-off mode and must be deposited in designated pigeonhole boxes or jute bags at the entrance.
Additionally, the ECI has updated the guidelines for canvassing on election day, prohibiting any electioneering within 100 meters of polling stations. Candidate booths offering unofficial identity slips can only be set up beyond this 100-meter radius.
The ECI, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, remains committed to conducting elections fairly and legally while introducing new initiatives to make the voting process smoother for all citizens.