New Delhi: The Election Commission Monday deferred the bypoll to Pipli Assembly constituency. Besides, it also postponed bypolls to Jangipur and Samserganj Assembly seats in West Bengal in view of the raging Covid-19 situations in the country.
According to the commission, the decision was taken after taking all material facts and inputs of Chief Electoral Officers of Odisha and West Bengal into consideration and taking note of the lockdown/restrictions imposed in the state under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 as issued by the NDMA/SDMA.
“The commission has decided to defer the scheduled poll and extend the period of elections in Pipli Assembly constituency in Odisha and Jangipur and Samserganj Assembly constituencies of West Bengal. Fresh notifications will be issued after assessing the pandemic situation,” the ECI informed Monday.
The ECI also lifted the model code of conduct in the constituencies and said it will be in operation from next date of notification.
Significantly, the polling for the by-election to Pipli Assembly constituency was re-scheduled for May 16 following the death of Congress candidate Ajit Mangaraj. Mangaraj succumbed to Covid-19 April 14, three days before the earlier schedule of election April 17.
October 4 last year, the sitting BJD Pipili MLA Pradeep Maharathy had died which necessitated the by-poll to the Assembly seat.
PNN