The Election Commission has deferred bye-elections in eight of the 56 assembly constituencies till September 7 in view of “extraordinary circumstances” peculiar to these seats.
Bye-elections are due in 56 assembly constituencies and one parliamentary seat.
The seats where the bypolls have been put on hold till September 7 are Valmiki Nagar in Bihar, Sibsagar in Assam, Thiruvottiyur and Gudiyattam in Tamil Nadu, Agar in Madhya Pradesh, Bulandshahr and Tundla in Uttar Pradesh and Chavara in Kerala.
In the light of reports of deferment of bypolls, the Election Commission clarified that bypolls in only eight constituencies has been put on hold till September 7. It also said that the Commission has already taken a decision to hold all bye-elections as per provisions of Section 151A of the Representation of People Act, 1951.
The Commission will be taking up for discussion the matter of timing of the bypolls at its meeting to be held tomorrow.
The deferment of polls comes in the midst of a debate on whether it is prudent to hold elections during the COVID-19 pandemic. It brings into focus the unrest amongst the opposition parties in Bihar with regard to the Assembly elections that are due in October-November. Many of the opposition leaders in the state have said that having elections during the outbreak will put the lives of people at risk. The ruling parties in the state have described the disquiet in the rival camp as betraying their nervousness.
