EC reschedules UP, Punjab, Kerala by-polls from 13 Nov to 20 Nov

The Election Commission on 4 November, Monday, rescheduled assembly by-polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Kerala from November 13 to 20 November in view of festivals, an official statement said.

Nine seats are going to polls in Uttar Pradesh, four in Punjab and one in Kerala.

Parties including Congress, BJP, BSP and RLD had urged the poll body to reschedule the polls given various festivals could impact voter turnout.

According to the Congress, a significant portion of the electorate in the Palakkad assembly seat in Kerala will celebrate the festival of Kalpathi Rastholsavam from November 13 to 15.

In Punjab, the party had said, the 555th Prakash Parv of Sri Guru Nanak Dev will be celebrated on November 15 and an 'akhand path' will be organised from November 13 onwards.

BJP, BSP and RLD had said that in Uttar Pradesh, people travel for three-four days ahead of Kartik Purnima, which will be celebrated on November 15.