NEW DELHI: With the death of the BSP candidate in Betul (ST) parliamentary constituency in Madhya Pradesh forcing adjournment of the poll, the Election Commission on Wednesday announced a new poll schedule for the seat, fixing polling on May 7.
As per the original schedule, polling for Betul(ST) was to be held in Phase 2 on April 26.
BSP candidate from Betul (ST) Ashok Bhalavi had died of a heart attack on Tuesday. As per Section 52 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, in the event of death of a contesting candidate of a recognised political party, the returning officer (RO) must adjourn the poll and report the same to the EC. EC, upon receiving the RO’s report, must call upon the recognised party whose candidate has died, to nominate another candidate within seven days.
Accordingly, EC on Wednesday rescheduled the Lok Sabha poll in Betul (ST) to May 7. A fresh notification for the poll will now be issued on April 12, allowing the new BSP nominee to file nomination by April 19 for the seat. His nomination will be scrutinised on April 20, with April 22 being the last date for withdrawal of candidature.
No person other than the new candidate sponsored by BSP can file a fresh nomination. Other candidates whose nominations were found valid and were not withdrawn, will remain in the fray.
Bharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. ...
Read MoreBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.
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