IMPHAL, Oct 1 - Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has said that the State Government will appeal to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to hold by-elections simultaneously to at least eight Assembly constituencies in the State.
Even as 13 of the total 60 Assembly seats in Manipur are currently lying vacant, ECI on Tuesday announced by-elections to only two constituencies � Wangjing-Tentha and Lilong in Thoubal district.
It may be mentioned here that Joint Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Manipur Ramananda Nongmeikapam suggested that pending court cases and election petitions could be the reason behind ECI not announcing by-elections to the remaining Assembly constituencies.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said, �We are going to write to the ECI for holding by-elections to at least eight Assembly constituencies in the State at the same time.�
The Chief Minister had dropped six of his Cabinet ministers and inducted five new faces in a major reshuffle on September 24.
Two days later, he distributed portfolios to the new ministers.
On the day of oath-taking by the new ministers, the Chief Minister hinted at inducting another minister after the by-elections, who is likely to get the Health portfolio.
The by-elections to Lilong and Wangjing-Tentha Assembly constituencies were necessitated after the two sitting MLAs submitted their resignations.
The formal notification for the bypoll will be issued on October 10 and the last date for filing nomination is October 20. Scrutiny of the nomination paper will be held on October 21 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 23.
Counting of votes in the two seats will take place on November 10.
With the announcement of the election schedule, the model code of conduct has already come into effect in Thoubal district.
