Polls for Andhra, Arunachal, Sikkim & Odisha Assemblies with LS elections

Elections for Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha Assemblies will be held along with the Lok Sabha polls, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora announced, here on Sunday.

Polling will take place in one phase in all these states, except Odisha, where it will be held over four phases.

While Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will go to vote on April 11, the polling dates for Odisha have been announced as April 11, 18, 23 and 29.

This is the second time since its bifurcation (to carve out Telangana) in 2014 that Andhra Pradesh will see Assembly polls. The last time too, the Assembly elections were held with the Lok Sabha polls.

The state will vote to elect 175 legislators to the 176-member Assembly. One member is nominated.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu is the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, since its bifurcation. Naidu has also served as the Chief Minister of the undivided state between 1994 and 2004, becoming the longest-serving CM in the state.

Arunachal Pradesh will go to polls for 60 seats. It is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Pema Khandu. He became the Chief Minister in 2016 after the resignation of Nabam Tuki of the Congress and imposition of the President's rule.

Polling for Odisha's 147 seats will be held in four phases. Counting of votes will be held on May 23, along with the Lok Sabha votes. The Odisha Assembly's term ends on June 11.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik who has ruled the state since 2000 will be contesting for the fifth term this year.

Sikkim will see polling for 32-seat Assembly, whose term ends on May 27.

The state is ruled by Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF)'s Pawan Chamling who will be contending for sixth term.

--IANS

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