The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced the dates for by-elections in five Assembly constituencies spread across Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab, and West Bengal. Polling is scheduled for June 19, with vote counting set for June 23. Among the constituencies, Gujarat will see elections in the Kadi (a reserved seat for Scheduled Castes) and Visavadar seats, while Kerala’s Nilambur, Punjab’s Ludhiana West, and West Bengal’s Kaliganj constituencies will also go to polls. The Gazette notification for the by-elections will be issued on May 26, and key deadlines include nomination submission by June 2, scrutiny on June 3, and candidate withdrawal by June 5. The entire election process is expected to conclude by June 25.
The vacancies in these seats have arisen due to various reasons including resignations and deaths. In Gujarat, the Visavadar seat became vacant following the resignation of former Aam Aadmi Party MLA Bhupatbhai Bhayani, who later joined the BJP. The Kadi seat became vacant due to the passing away of BJP MLA Karsanbhai Punjabhai Solanki. In Kerala, the Nilambur by-election was necessitated by the resignation of Independent MLA P.V. Anvar. Punjab’s Ludhiana West seat fell vacant after the demise of Congress MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, while in West Bengal, the Kaliganj by-election is being held after the death of veteran Trinamool Congress MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed in February. The announcement of these dates has triggered the immediate enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct in the affected districts.
In a bid to promote transparency, the ECI has mandated that candidates with criminal records must disclose their backgrounds publicly through newspapers and television three times during the campaign period. Political parties nominating such candidates are also required to provide detailed information on their websites, social media, and other media outlets within 48 hours of selection. This information will also be accessible through the ‘Know Your Candidates’ app, allowing voters to make informed decisions. The Election Commission emphasized that these disclosures are scheduled at specific intervals during the campaign to ensure the electorate has sufficient time to evaluate candidate profiles ahead of polling.
