Champawat Bypoll on 31 May

By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 2 May: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued the programme for bypolls in the country. As per the schedule released by the ECI, polling will be held in Champawat Assembly constituency along with that in Brijarajnagar Assembly constituency in Odisha and Thrikkakara Assembly constituency in Kerala on 31 May. Counting of votes will be held on 3 June. It may be recalled that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is contesting from Champawat in order to become a member of the state assembly within a period of 6 months from taking over. It may be recalled that though the BJP had won the state assembly elections by winning 47 seats in a 70 member House, the sitting CM Dhami had lost his personal election from Khatima in Udham Singh Nagar district, from where he was a two time sitting MLA. The Champawat seat has fallen vacant following the resignation of three-time BJP MLA Kailash Gehtodi to enable the CM to contest the election.
As per the schedule released by the ECI, the gazette notification for the bypoll would be issued on 4 May, while 11 May would be the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny would be held on 12 May while 16 May would be the last date for withdrawal of nominations. Polling would be held on 31 May, and counting of votes would held on 3 June.