Election Commission of India announces October bypolls for six seats

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for bypolls covering six constituencies, including the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam and five Assembly seats across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

Voting is scheduled for October 6, with the counting of votes and declaration of results set for October 9. The formal election process begins with the issuance of the gazette notification on September 9, followed by the deadline for filing nominations on September 16. Scrutiny of papers will occur on September 17, and the final date for candidate withdrawal is September 19.

The Nagaon Lok Sabha vacancy follows the resignation of former MP Pradyut Bordoloi. In West Bengal, the Nandigram and Rejinagar seats became vacant due to candidates retaining alternative constituencies. In Tamil Nadu, the Madurantakam and Dharapuram seats will hold elections, while Thattanchavady in Puducherry will also see a fresh vote. The ECI confirmed that electronic voting machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems will be utilized at all polling stations.