announcement of by-election in Khandu's state

Elections for Mukto Assembly constituencyin Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, which fell vacant after the untimelydeath of former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, would be held on July 14, said electionofficials.

Pema Khandu, the eldest son of DorjeeKhandu, is expected to contest from the constituency in the by-poll. He wasrecently inducted as the Tourism and the Water Resources Development (WRD)Minister on May 20 in the Jarbom Gamlin council.

While the notification will be issuedon June 20, the last date of filing nominations is June 27. The scrutiny would beon June 28 and last date of withdrawal of candidature is June 30, saidofficials.

Counting of votes would be on July 18.

Dorjee Khandu had won the seat fiveconsecutive times, including three times when he was unopposed during 1990,2004 and 2009.

By-election was necessitated as theseat remained vacant following Khandu's death on April 30 in a chopper crash atLuguthang along with four others on board.

With the announcement of election, theprovision of the model code of conduct has come into force in Tawang, electionoffice sources said.

The election commission furtherdirected all the departments to take note of the model code of conduct and addedthat any violation of the instruction regarding ban on transfer of officer andofficials connected with conduct of election, payment out of discretionary fundwill be viewed very seriously.