Punjab set for Aug 3 by-polls
By IANSWednesday, July 29, 2009
CHANDIGARH - Punjab is all set for its high profile Aug 3 by-polls in three assembly constituencies, which will see ruling Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal testing his electoral fate.
The by-polls will be held in Khanuwan, Jalalabad and Banur constituency.
“We have completed all the preparations for the forthcoming by-elections. Fifteen companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed to maintain the law and order situation,” Kusumjit Sidhu, chief election commissioner of Punjab, told reporters here Wednesday.
Badal is contesting from Jalalabad, in the border district of Ferozepur, some 300 km from here.
He had to resign as deputy chief minister July 1, less than six months after being sworn in as second in command to his father Parkash Singh Badal.
Badal junior resigned as he could not get himself elected to the Punjab assembly within six months of being sworn in as is necessary according to the law.
The Jalalabad and Khanuwan seats were left vacant as the legislatures Sher Singh Gubaya and Partap Singh Bajwa were elected to the Lok Sabha. The Banur seat was lying vacant since March this year after the death of Punjab cooperative minister Kanwaljit Singh in a road accident.
