Bypolls in 4 Punjab seats now on Nov 20

The bypolls to 14 Assembly constituencies in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala have been rescheduled by the Election Commission from November 13 to November 20.

The EC said the decision was taken following a representation by various parties, including the BJP, Congress, BSP and the RLD, which cited “large-scale social, cultural and religious engagements on November 13”.

Former National Commission for Minorities (NCM) chairperson Tarlochan Singh too had flagged the need to defer the byelections in Punjab as these were coinciding with the Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev (November 15). In his letter to CEC Rajiv Kumar last month, Singh had mentioned that though the gurpurb was on November 15, the preparations would start with an ‘akhand path’ on November 13. Singh on Monday thanked the CEC for heeding his request of postponing the bypolls, especially in Punjab.

In Punjab, the bypolls are to be held in four seats — Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, Gidderbaha and Barnala. In Kerala, Palakkad is the lone seat while there are nine segments in UP — Meerapur, Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Karhal, Sishamau, Phulpur, Katehari and Majhawan.