Notification for Talwandi Sabo and Patiala Assembly bye-elections be issued on July 26

Chandigarh, July 25, 2014: The Election Commission of India would issue the notification for the Talwandi Sabo and Patiala Assembly bye-elections on July 26, 2014. Polling for this bye-election would be held on August 21, 2014.

Disclosing this here today, V.K Singh, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab said that the Election Commission of India has already announced the election schedule on July 19. He said that as per the schedule nominations for the bye-elections would start from July 26, 2014 and continue till August 2, 2014. Scrutiny of nominations would be done on August 4. Last date for the withdrawal of candidature has been fixed as August 6. Counting would be held on august 25. He said that the whole election process would be completed before August 30, 2014. He said that the polling hours have been fixed from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. He said that the candidates could file their nomination papers before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of the respective constituencies who have been made the Returning Officers for the polling. He said that nominations could be filed between the hours of 11:00 AM-3:00 PM on any day other than a public holiday from 26th July, 2014 to 2nd August, 2014.

He said that nomination papers must be filed in the form of 2B Blank forms available with the District Election Officer/Returning Officer. He said that 26th July, 2014 being a Saturday is not holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, therefore, nomination papers would be presented to the Returning Officer on that day. 27th July being a Sunday and holiday under the same Act, so papers would not be presented on that day. Similarly, 29th July, being Idu’l Fitr is a holiday under the same act, so papers would not be filed on that day.

He said that 31th July, being a martyrdom day of Shaheed Udham Singh is holiday but not a holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, therefore nomination papers could be filed on that day. Similarly, 2nd August being Saturday is not a holiday under this act so nomination papers would be presented and 3rd August being a Sunday and holiday under same act.

He said that the Model Code of Conduct has already come in force in District of Bathinda and Patiala and shall remain in force till the completion of election process.