Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 20 2009:
The election Commission of India (ECI) has announced today that the bye-election to 14-Yaiskul Assembly Constituency will be held on December 19 .
According to a press release issued by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur, the notification for the bye-election will be issued on November 25, the last date for making nomination is December 2, scrutiny of nomination will be held on December 3 and last date for withdrawal of candidatures will be December 5 .
The counting of votes will be held on December 23 .
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in the bye-election at all polling stations in the constituency.
According to the press release, the voters' identification shall be mandatory at the time of poll.
In order to ensure that no voter is deprived of his/her franchise, if his/her name figures in the electoral roll, separate instructions will be issued to allow additional documents for identification of voters.
The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect from today in the entire district of Imphal East.
It may be recalled here that the bye-election to 14-Yaiskul Assembly Constituency has been necessitated by the demise of its MLA Elangbam Kunjeshore on September 17 .
Observers strongly feel that in view of the ongoing agitation spearheaded by Apunba Lup and the class boycott stir called by three student organisations demanding resignation of the Chief Minister, O Ibobi, the bye-election to Yaiskul AC is going to be a litmus test for the ruling SPF, especially Congress.
Meanwhile, though there has been talks about fielding a common candidate of the opposition parties, considering the past experiences, it is quite unlikely.