EC announces poll dates for AP, Orissa and Sikkim

The Election Commission on Monday announced two-phased assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa on April 16 and 23 and a single-phased polling in Sikkim on April 30.

Notification for the first phase of polling in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa will be issued on March 13 and the last date for filing nominations in both states will be March 30.

Scrutiny will be held the following day and the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be on April 2.

For the second phase, in both states, notification will be issued on March 28 and the last date for filing nominations in both states will be April 4. Scrutiny will be held on April 6 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be April 8.

Notification for the Sikkim assembly polls will be issued on April 2 and the last date for filing nominations would be April 9. While the scrutiny would be on the following day, the last date for withdrawal would be April 13.

The term of the 294-member Andhra Pradesh assembly expires on May 30, while that of the 147-member Orissa assembly expires on June 29. The term of the 32-member Sikkim Assembly expires on May 23.

Announcing the poll schedule, Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami said seven assembly by-polls -- four in Nagaland and one each in Jharkhand, Karnataka and Mizoram -- would also be held along with the Lok Sabha polls in those seats.

In Nagaland, the by-poll will be held for Dimapur-III, Chizami, Tizit and Tuensang Sadar-II seats.

Similarly, Jamtara (Jharkhand), Bidar (Karnataka) and South Tuipai (Mizoram) will also have by-elections.