In a surprise move, Election Commission of India announced by- poll for the fifth vacant seat of Uttar Pradesh legislative Council on Tuesday. Earlier on August 245, the EC had announced by-election to only four of the six seats of legislative Council that fell vacant recently after resignation by five MlCs of Samajwadi Party and one of Bahujan Samaj Party.
Chief Electoral Officer (UP) Amrita Soni said in lucknow that on Tuesday the EC decided to add another seat vacated by Jaiveer Singh of the BSP. The EC had declined to hold by-poll for the two Council citingthat the remaining period of these seats was less than one year. The EC however cited no reason for not holding by-poll for the sixth seat vacated by Ambika Chaudhary of Samajwadi Party.
BSP member Thakur Jaiveer Singh resigned from legislative Council on July 29 while Ambika Chaudhary of SP resigned on August 9. The terms of both members were to end on May 5, 2018.
Sources however said that Jaiveer Singh had resigned last month hence the by-poll for his seat was announced by the EC and that by-election for the seat vacated by Ambika Chaudhary who resigned this month could be announced later.
However the EC decision of announcing by-poll for the fifth seat solved the crisis for Yogi Adityanath government as now all five ministers, including the CM, would get elected to the Upper House before the deadline of September 18.
As per programme schedule for the fifth seat of Council by-poll, nominations would commence on August 31 and end on September 7. Scrutiny of papers would be done on September 8 and candidates could withdraw nominations till September 11.
Earlier, the notification for by-election to four seats of legislative Council was issued here on Tuesday. On the first day of nominations, no one filed their papers. The BJP leaders purchased nomination papers for probable candidates with party calling up all MlAs to sign as proposers.
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