Chandigarh, 15 October, 2024: By-elections for four Punjab Assembly constituencies—Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, Gidderbaha, and Barnala—are set for November 13, according to Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C.
Sibin C outlined the key dates: the election notification will be issued on October 18, with the last date for filing nominations on October 25. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on October 28, and candidates have until October 30 to withdraw.
Votes will be counted on November 23, he said.
He also confirmed that the election code of conduct is now in effect in Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Barnala districts, and will remain so until the election process is completed on November 25.
District officials have been appointed to oversee the election process.
Uma Shankar Gupta will serve as District Election Officer (DEO) for Dera Baba Nanak, while Komal Mittal will oversee Chabbewal (SC).
Rajesh Tripathi will handle Gidderbaha, and Poonamdeep Kaur will manage Barnala.
Also, SDMs from these areas have been appointed as Returning Officers for their respective constituencies.
A total of 6,96,316 voters are eligible to cast their ballots across 831 polling stations.
By-elections, also known as special elections or bye-elections, are elections held to fill a political office that becomes vacant between general elections. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as the death, resignation, disqualification, or other circumstances causing the sitting representative to leave their position.
According to the indian constitution, By-elections ensure that the vacant seat is filled for the remainder of the term, allowing the constituency to remain represented in the legislative body. They follow the same electoral process as general elections but focus only on the specific vacant seat.
The four Punjab Assembly seats of Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, Gidderbaha, and Barnala became vacant due to the disqualification of MLAs who switched parties during a political realignment.
