Bhubaneswar: Election Commission of India announced the By-poll for the Patkura Assembly constituency of Odisha to be held on 20 July 2019, counting on July 24 .
The General Election to Legislative Assembly of Odisha was scheduled in four phases. 96-Patkura AC from Odisha was scheduled for poll on 29.04.2019 in the 4th Phase. Sh. Bed Prakash Agarwalla, contesting candidate of BJD (Biju Janata Dal) from 96-Patkura AC died on 20.04.2019, the detailed schedule of the poll was as follows:
| Issue of Notification | 02-04-2019 |
| Last Date for filing Nominations | 09-04-2019 |
| Scrutiny of Nominations | 10-04-2019 |
| Last date for withdrawal
of Candidature |
12-04-2019 |
| Date of Poll | 29-04-2019 |
| Counting of Votes | 23-05-2019 |
| Date before which the election
shall be completed |
27-05-2019 |
In this connection, the poll under section 52(1)(c) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 on account of death of contesting candidate was adjourned by Returning Officer. Further, the Commission vide its notice dated 24.04.2019 to the concerned recognized state party (BJD) called upon to nominate another candidate for the said election within 7 days of the issue of the such notice under the provisions of section 52(2) of R.P. Act, 1951.
Consequently, the Commission vide its notification No. 492/ECI/NOT/TERR/ES-II/OR-LA/2019 dated 24.04.2019 notified the schedule of adjourned poll, which was as follows:
| Last Date for making Nominations | 01-05-2019 |
| Scrutiny of Nominations | 02-05-2019 |
| Last date for withdrawal
of Candidature |
04-05-2019 |
| Date of Poll | 19-05-2019 |
| Counting of Votes | 23-05-2019 |
| Date before which the election
shall be completed |
27-05-2019 |
In view of “FANI” cyclone, the CEO Odisha proposed to postpone the schedule of elections mentioned above with date of poll on 19.05.2019. Accordingly, the Commission decided to extend the completion of the election from 96-Patkura AC for 60 days.
Now, the Commission after taking into consideration various factors like, festivals, electoral rolls, etc., the Commission has decided to hold the adjourned poll to fill this vacancy as per the programme mentioned as under: –
| Date of Poll | 20-07-2019(Saturday) |
| Counting of Votes | 24-07-2019 (Wednesday) |
| Date before which the election
shall be completed |
26-07-2019 (Friday) |
ELECTORAL ROLL
The Electoral Rolls for the aforesaid Assembly Constituency w.r.t. 01.01.2019 as the qualifying date has been finally published.
ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES (EVMs) and VVPATs
The Commission has decided to use EVMs and VVPATs in the election in all the polling stations. Adequate numbers of EVMs and VVPATs have been made available and all steps have been taken to ensure that the polls are conducted smoothly with the help of these machines.
VOTERS IDENTIFICATION
In consonance with the past practice, the Commission has decided that the voter’s identification shall be mandatory in the aforementioned election at the time of poll. Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) shall be the main document of identification of a voter. However, in order to ensure that no voter is deprived of his/her franchise, if his/her name figures in the electoral rolls, separate instructions will be issued to allow additional documents for identification of voters at the time of poll in the said election.
MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT
The Model Code of Conduct shall come into force with immediate effect in the district(s) in which the whole or any part of the Assembly Constituency going for election is included, subject to partial modification as issued vide Commission’s instruction No. 437 /6/1NST2016-CCS, dated 29th June, 2017 (available on the Commission’s website). The Model Code of Conduct shall be applicable to all candidates, political parties and the State Government concerned. The Model Code of Conduct shall also be applicable to the Union Government for the district of the State concerned.
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