The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Thursday that the by-poll for Ater and Bandhavgarh Assembly constituencies of the State would be held on April 9 and counting of votes will take place on April 13.
The by-poll to Ater seat in Bhind district was necessitated after the death of sitting Congress MlA Satyadev Katare on October 21, 2016, whereas at Bandhavgarh (ST) in Umaria district, the seat fell vacant after sitting BJP MP Gyan Singh won the lok Sabha by-poll from Shahdol, in November last year.
The nominations for the by-polls will be filed between March 14-21 while the scrutiny would be done on March 22 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is March 24. The counting will take place on April 13, an EC official said here.
Ater the constituency number 9 of the state is one of the 5 assembly constituencies located in Bhind district. This constituency covers the entire Ater Tehsil, part of Bhind Tehsil and Phuphkalan Nagar Panchayat and in lok Sabha it is part of Bhind lok Sabha constituency.
The constituency has sent Congress representative seven times and BJP representative four times in the assembly since 1951.Bandhavgarh assembly constituency reserved for ST is numbered 89 and has sent both Congress and BJP representatives to the assembly twice during the past four assembly elections.
The model Code of Conduct in these constituencies came into force with immediate effect in the districts in which the whole or any part of Assembly constituencies going for by-elections falls. The district collectors concerned have been directed by the Commission to keep a vigil in view of Holi, the official said.
The Code will be applicable to all candidates, political parties and State Governments concerned. The Code shall also be applicable to the Union Government with regard to the states concerned.