The Election Commission of India on Thursday announced that the scrutiny of nominations for the upcoming Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, along with Puducherry, as well as bye-elections in multiple states, has been completed.
The poll panel had earlier declared the election schedule on March 15 for the five poll-bound regions—Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry—alongside bye-elections in six states. The last date for filing nominations for Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, and bye-polls in four states going to polls on April 9, was March 23.
Following scrutiny conducted by Returning Officers on March 24 and 25, a total of 2,140 candidates remain in the fray across 296 Assembly constituencies in Assam (789 candidates), Kerala (985) and Puducherry (366).
For the bye-elections, 66 candidates are contesting across five constituencies in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura. The scrutiny process was carried out in the presence of candidates and their representatives and was fully videographed to ensure transparency.
As per the Commission’s guidelines, Returning Officers have published the final list of valid candidates along with their photographs on official notice boards. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is March 26, up to 3 pm.
Drone Surveillance To Be Deployed Across All Constituencies Of UT To Prevent Distribution Of Cash & Freebies To Voters: Puducherry CEO P. Jawahar
Puducherry Chief Electoral Officer P. Jawahar has said that drone surveillance will be deployed across all constituencies of the Union Territory to prevent the distribution of cash and freebies to voters. He said that this is the first time in the country that such drone surveillance is being implemented across all constituencies of a state or union territory.
He also informed that representatives from the Election Management Bodies of 15 countries will visit Puducherry to observe the election process. He added that the number of flying squads will be increased.
Communist Party Of India, Alliance Partner Of I.N.D.I.A. Bloc In Puducherry, To Contest Independently In Upcoming Assembly Elections
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), an alliance partner of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc in Puducherry, will contest independently in two constituencies in the upcoming Assembly elections. Though nominations were filed in four constituencies by the party, two were withdrawn today. CPI(M) State Secretary S. Ramachandran alleged that the alliance leadership failed to unite the parties.
