Punjab Assembly bypolls postponed to November 20

The Election Commission on Monday rescheduled Assembly bypolls in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala from November 13 to November 20 in view of festival season, an official statement said.

Nine seats are going to polls in Uttar Pradesh, four in Punjab and one in Kerala.

The four Assembly segments in Punjab are Gidderbaha, Barnala, Dera Baba Nanak and Chabbewal.

Parties, including the Congress, BJP, BSP and RLD, had urged the poll body to reschedule the polls in view of various festivals, saying it could impact the voter turnout.

According to the Congress, a significant portion of the electorate in the Palakkad Assembly seat in Kerala will celebrate the festival of Kalpathi Rastholsavam from November 13 to 15.

In Punjab, the party had said that the Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak will be celebrated on November 15 and an 'akhand path' will be organised from November 13 onwards.

The BJP, BSP and RLD had said that in Uttar Pradesh, people travel for three-four days ahead of Kartik Purnima, which will be celebrated on November 15. With PTI inputs