LS, assembly by-polls on May 29

The Election Commission of India, in its bid to complete the electoral college for the forthcoming Presidential election, has decided to hold by-elections for three Lok Sabha and eight assembly seats on May 29.

Chief Election Commissioner Dr Manohar Singh Gill said the Lok Sabha constituencies where by-elections will be held are: East Delhi, Aska and Ernakulam. The eight assembly constituencies are spread over seven states -- two in Orissa and one each in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

The notification for the by-elections will be issued on May 5. Gill said counting will be taken up on May 31 and the entire election process is expected to be completed by June 4.

Gill also said the Commission has decided not to give any more extensions to political parties for completing their organisational elections.

Eight national parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India-Marxist have completed their organisational elections. The other five parties including the Congress, will have to complete their organisational elections by May.

Gill said Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad held a meeting with him on Thursday, but declined to divulge the details.

Only four of the 38 regional parties -- the Haryana Vikas Party, the Tamil Maanila Congress, the Socialist Democratic Front and the Republican Party of India -- have complied with the norms, he said, adding that 18 regional parties have not responded to the commission's directive in this regard. Some clarifications have been sought from the Bahujan Samaj Party.

The CEC said the Commission would hold an all-party meet on electoral reforms on May 7, where the main agenda will be evolving new guidelines for granting recognition to political parties.

UNI