The byelection to Noksen Assembly constituency in Tuensang district of Nagaland will be held on April 17, the Election Commission of India notified.

The counting of votes will be held on May 2.

The Noksen Assembly constituency fell vacant following the death of forest and environment minister CM Chang on October 12 last year.

The Commission said bypolls to parliamentary constituencies in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and 14 Assembly constituencies in various states across India will be held on the same day.

Nagaland chief electoral officer Abhijit Sinha, in a notification, said the gazette notification will be issued on March 23.

The last date of filing of nominations has been fixed on March 30 and the scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on March 31.

April 3 is the last date for the withdrawal of nominations.

Sinha said the model code of conduct comes into force with immediate effect in the district, which will be applicable to all the candidates, political parties and the state government as well as the Union government.

The Election Commission said it has decided to use EVMs and VVPATs in the byelections in all polling stations.

Bhadra Gogoi is Northeast Now Correspondent in Nagaland. He can be reached at: [email protected]