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Mumbai: The Election Commission, on Monday, declared
the dates for the Maharashtra by-polls to three assembly
seats that were vacated by Shiv Sena MLAs who joined
the Congress and also one of the Lok Sabha. The by-elections
will be held on January 21.
The three assembly seats were vacated from Vengurla,
Rajapur and Sangameshwar when MLAs Subhash Bane, Shankar
Kambli and Ganpat Kadam had resigned on November 4,
espousing former Sena leader Narayan Rane’s allegiance
to the Congress Party. The Congress government has guaranteed
them nominations again. The Lok Sabha seat from Sangli
was vacated following the demise of Congress MP Prakash
Patil.
The January by-polls to the assembly are crucial as
they closely follow the recent by-election in the Malwan
region of the state from where Rane had won hands down,
after a much-hyped verbal fight with Sena-supremo Bal
Thackeray. The by-polls are also crucial for the Shiv
Sena, as even the pronouncement comes just a day after
Raj Thackeray parted ways with the Sena. This by-election
will now discern the ground strength for the Sena, following
the public battle between the Thackeray scions, for
the control of Sena.
As per the schedule, the EC would issue notices on December
28 and the final date for filing in the nominations
would be January 4. The scrutiny would follow the next
day and the end date for withdrawal would be January
7. Counting of votes is scheduled to take place on the
24th of January.
The EC has also declared that the Model Code of Conduct
would be enforced immediately. The Electronic Voting
Machines (EVMs) will be used for the by-elections.
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