The Election Commission has announced the change of date of by-elections in 14 assembly constituencies of Kerala, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Now the polling will be held on the 20th of this month instead of the 13th of November. The 14 constituencies include Palakkad in Kerala, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, Gidderbaha, Barnala in Punjab, and Meerapur, Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Karhal, Sishamau, Phulpur, Katehari and Majhawan in Uttar Pradesh. The date of counting remains unchanged and will be held on the 23rd of November.
The decision has been taken given the representations received by the Commission from various political parties including BJP, Congress, BSP and some social organisations. They demanded to change the date of the poll due to large-scale social, cultural and religious engagements on the 13th of this month.