Filing of nominations for Punjab poll begins tomorrow

Chandigarh, Jan 17 (UNI) The filing of nomination papers to the 117-member Punjab Legislative Assembly and the Amritsar Parliamentary constituency will commence tomorrow with the issue of the official notification by the Election Commission (EC).

The by-election to the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat is being held as the BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu vacated it after his conviction in a 19-year-old road rage case by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on December six.

The last date for making nominations will be January 25 and scrutiny will take place on January 27. Ths last date for withdrawal of candidatures is January 29, after which the final list of the contestants will be printed.

Voters would cast their votes on February 13 and counting would take place on February 27. The hours of polling are from 0800 hours to 1700 hours. The election process would be completed before March two.

According to the state Chief Electoral Officer Sundaram Krishna, the nomination papers were to be filed with the concerned Returning Officer for all Assembly Constituencies and the Amritsar Parliamentary Constituency between 1100 hours and 1500 hours on all days, except on public holidays.

Mr Krishna said the Model Code of Conduct had come into force from the date of announcement of elections on December 29 by the Election Commission and it would remain in force till the completion of the election process.

UNI