Karnataka Assembly Bypolls For 15 Seats Now On Dec. 5: Election Commission

The bypolls to 15 Karnataka seats, which the Election Commission had decided to defer, will now be held on Dec. 5, according to a new notification issued on Friday.

The counting will take place on Dec. 9.

Citing proceedings in the Supreme Court on Thursday regarding the pleas filed by 17 disqualified Members of Legislative Assembly of the state challenging their disqualification, the EC said that after deliberations, it has decided that the nomination process will restart on Nov. 11 as per the new schedule.

The apex court will hear the matter next on Oct. 22 and has expressed its inclination to decide the issue.

As per the new schedule, Nov. 21 will be the last date of withdrawing from electoral battle.

As per schedule announced on Sept. 21, the nomination process had started on Sept. 23 (Monday).

It said nomination papers filed before returning officers between Sept. 23 and Sept. 27 (Friday) will also be considered for scrutiny on Nov. 19.

As per the previous schedule, the bypoll was to be held on Oct. 21 and counting was to take place on Oct. 24.

The Election Commission had told the Supreme Court on Thursday that it would defer the upcoming bypolls in Karnataka till the apex court finally decides the pleas filed by 17 disqualified MLAs of the state challenging their disqualification.

The EC submitted this after a bench headed by Justice NV Ramana said it would be "better" if the pleas filed by these disqualified MLAs were decided finally as virtually two-third arguments in the matter were already over.

"Then I will ask the Election Commission to defer it (bypolls in Karnataka) for sometime," senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the EC, told the bench.

While expressing its inclination to finally decide the matter, the bench said, "Virtually almost two-third arguments are over. Let's hear it out completely and finish this matter. This is what we feel would be better."