New Delhi: Bye-election to a Maharashtra
legislative council seat will be held on May 5, paving the way
for Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to get elected to the
legislature.
The announcement of the schedule for the by-poll by the
Election Commission came close on the heels of the Bombay High
Court giving the go-ahead for it on Wednesday.
Chavan will be contesting the election to enter the state
legislature, as per constitutional requirements. At present,
he is not a member of either of the two Houses of the state
legislature.
The seat fell vacant after Sanjay Dutt of the Congress
resigned on March 11 to facilitate Chavan`s election. Dutt`s
term was to expire July 7, 2016.
Chavan took over as the Chief Minister November 11 last
year replacing Ashok Chavan who resigned over the Adarsh
Housing Society scam. He is required to get elected to either
of the two Houses within six months of assuming office.
The EC had to seek the court`s permission to hold the
bye-election for the seat as former Shiv Sena MLC Anil Parab
had in January challenged the June 2010 Legislative Council
elections in which four MNS MLAs were allowed to vote despite
being under suspension. Sanjay Dutt was one of the victorious
candidates.
The EC said that notification for the by-election would
be issued April 18.
The last date for filing nominations is April 25 and
scrutiny will be conducted on April 26.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 28.
Polling, if necessary, will take place May 5 and counting of
votes will take place the same day.
PTI
