EC Changes Byelection Dates For Kerala, Punjab, UP

The Election Commission of India announced on Monday a change in the date of by-elections in 14 assembly constituencies, shifting them from November 13 to November 20.

The constituencies affected by this change are in Kerala, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. Previously, the poll panel had set 13 November for by-elections across 48 assembly constituencies and two Lok Sabha seats.

EC said, "Representations have been received in the Commission from various recognised national and state political parties (including BJP, INC, BSP, RLD) and some social organisations for change of date for poll in some Assembly constituencies having by-elections on 13th November, 2024, considering large scale social, cultural and religious engagements on that day which may cause inconvenience to large number of people, give rise to various logistic issues and may lead to reduced voters participating during the poll."

The constituencies that will now hold by-elections on November 20 are as follows:

These by-elections will be held alongside Maharashtra's assembly elections and the second phase of Jharkhand polls.

Elections for the 288-seat Maharashtra assembly are scheduled for 20 November. The ruling Mahayuti alliance-comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP-faces a challenge from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP).