Election Commission announces by-poll dates for 5 states to 6 RS seats; polling on Oct 4

Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday anunced dates for various by-elections in several states. According to ECI, by-elections to six casual vacancies in Council of States will be held starting October 4. Voting will be held between 9 AM to 5 PM and counting of votes will be held same day starting from 5 PM. 

Five states with six casual vacancies are going to polls namely- West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nu, Maharashtra and Mhya Presh. Among se, re are two vacancies in Tamil Nu after AIMK's KP Munuswamy and Vaithiyalingam resigned as members of State Assembly. or states, have one vacancy each.

West Bengal is going to polls for Rajya Sabha seat left vacant by Manas Ranjan Bhunia. leer h resigned as Rajya Sabha MP in May. Maharashtra is going to by-polls for seat of Rajeev Shankarrao Satav who passed away on May 16, after contracting COVID-19. Mhya Presh is polling on seat of Thaawarchand Gehlot who resigned and took oath as 19th Goverr of Karnataka in July. Assam is holding elections for seat of Biswajit Daimary.

According to EC tification, candidates are expected to submit ir minations by September 22 at latest. scrutiny of minations will take place on September 23 after which candidates can withdraw ir minations last by September 27. Polling will be held on October 4. Elections to all six councils will be finished before October 6, as per Election Commission.

Apart from se, crucial seat of Bhabanipur is also expected to go to by-polls on September 30. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is a contender for polls as she looks to save her CM berth after losing from Nandigram to BJP's Suvendu hikari in West Bengal Assembly Elections.