Election Commission of India is yet to announce a bye-election to the Belagavi Lok Sabha seat that fell vacant after the death of the former Union Minister Suresh Angadi on 23 September 2020.
As per section 151-A of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1956 the bye-election should commence within 6 months from the date of the vacancy. Hence in this case, by 23 March 2021, the election process must be completed.
Normally the announcement is 34-35 days in advance keeping in mind the last date of 23 March 2021 in this case.
So we can expect the Election commission to announce the poll schedule soon in the coming 10 days or so (Feb 20 or even before).
Dr Sanjeev Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner Karnataka told the media after a review meeting with the officials regarding preparation for holding the bye-election to the Lok Sabha seat on Tuesday.
EVM checking, staff selection, training preparation was being made ready. This time the Election Commission will provide Ballot paper to the COVID-19 patients and voters above 80-years and Handicap voters.
Political developments related to the bye-election, however, have begun in the district long ago. The earliest trends suggest that the number of aspirants in the BJP outnumber those in the Congress or the Janata Dal(S).
Some of the name making rounds as aspirants –
BJP: Shradha Angadi, Dr.Prakash Sonwalkar, Dr. Ravi Patil, Dr. Sonali Sarnobat, Jagdish Shettar, Krishna Bhat, Â Amarnath Jarkiholi, Amarsinh Patil, Ramesh Katti, Prabhakar Kore
Congress: Prakash Hukkeri, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Satish Jarkhiholi, Chennaraj Hattiholi,