Bypolls to the two Assembly seats in Manipur – Lilong and Wangjing-Tentha – will be held on November 7, said Manipur’s joint chief electoral officer (CEO) Ramananda Nongmeikapam in Imphal on Tuesday.
October 20 has been fixed as the last date for filing nomination papers.
The dates of scrutiny and the last date of withdrawal of candidature are October 21 and 23, respectively.
The counting of votes will be held on November 10 while the election process will be completed on November 12.
Speaking to media at the office of the CEO at Lamphelpat here, Ramananda said with the announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately and will be applicable in the entire district of Thoubal.
The intending candidates and the political parties willing to contest the polls have been directed to comply strictly with the Model Code of Conduct with immediate effect until the election process is completed, he said.
A total of 32,398 electorates including 15,877 males,16,518 females, 3 transgender will exercise their franchise at 49 polling stations under Lilong Assembly constituency while 31,213 electorates including 15,053 males and 16,160 females will vote at 43 polling stations under Wangjing-Tentha constituency.
In view of the COVID19 pandemic, facility of postal ballots will be extended to persons with disability, electors having more than 80 years and COVID19 patients, the joint CEO said.
The Election Commission of India has framed guidelines for the conduct of general elections/bye-elections during COVID19.
Only two persons will be able to accompany the candidate for submission of nomination to returning officers and the number of vehicles for the purpose of the same is restricted to two.
Only five persons can accompany the candidate for door-to-door campaigns.
The nodal health officers shall be designated for the state, district and Assembly constituency to oversee the COVID19 related arrangements and preventive measures during the entire electoral process, etc. are among the guidelines, he added.
The press conference was also attended by assistant CEO N Angangjao and database administrator L Sujata Devi.
