SRINAGAR: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to announce bye-polls for the Budgam and Nagrota assembly seats, sources have disclosed.
Sources said that the poll body could announce the schedule at any time, possibly this week or early next week.
Omar Abdullah, who won both Budgam and Ganderbal seats in last year’s election, vacated the Budgam seat on October 21. Meanwhile, the Nagrota seat fell vacant on October 31 following the demise of Devinder Singh Rana.
As per election rules, bye-polls must be conducted within six months of a vacancy. The elections for these two seats must therefore be completed by April 20, 2025. However, the ECI, in consultation with the central government, may postpone the polls if it deems the conditions unsuitable for holding the elections within the stipulated timeframe. (KNO)
