The State Election Commission has deferred the election of block pramukhs in Allahabad due to the ongoing Magh Mela. The polling and counting of votes will now be held on February 10 instead of the earlier scheduled February 7.
The SEC has changed the dates following the request of the UP Home department which maintained that the Mauni Amvasyaa is scheduled on February 8 which will witness over a core pilgrims converging at Allahabad for the holy dip at the Sangam.
SEC chief, SK Agarwal said that maintaining law and order and conducting the mammoth bathing ritual peacefully on the day will be a big challenge for the Allahabad district administration and the police and hence the date has been revised.
For the rest of the state, the election of block pramukhs will be held in 819 blocks of 74 districts on On February 7. The electoral college for the poll has been completed with 77, 534 newly elected members of the block development committee becoming eligible to vote. However the oath of office to the newly elected representatives will be administered on or after March 17, as the term of the serving block pramukhs would end on that day.