Patna, July 6 (IANS) The nomination process for the Bankipur Assembly bye-election formally commenced on Monday, following the issuance of the election notification by the office of the Additional Chief Electoral Officer.

With the notification coming into effect, the Model Code of Conduct is now in force for the constituency.

Candidates will submit their nomination papers in the chamber of the Deputy Collector (Land Reforms), Patna Sadar, located on the second floor of the Patna Sadar Sub-divisional Office at the Collectorate.

According to the election schedule, notification was issued, and the nomination process began on Monday, with the last date for filing nominations being July 13.

The scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on July 14, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 16.

Nomination papers can be filed between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. each day during the nomination period.

Raghavendra Pratap Singh, Deputy Collector (Land Reforms), Patna Sadar, has been appointed as the Returning Officer for the bye-election.

To ensure the smooth conduct of the nomination process, Patna District Magistrate Kundan Kumar has deployed magistrates, police officers, and security personnel at the nomination venue.

The administration has issued several guidelines for candidates and their supporters, including that a candidate may bring no more than three vehicles inside the Collectorate premises, only five people, including the candidate, will be permitted to enter the nomination room, carrying licenced firearms into the premises is prohibited, security personnel and licenced bodyguards accompanying candidates must remain outside a 100-metre radius of the nomination room, and the entire nomination process will be video-recorded.

The Station House Officer (SHO) of Gandhi Maidan Police Station has been directed to remain present with a list of individuals against whom arrest warrants are pending.

According to the administration, if any wanted person attempts to enter the nomination venue, appropriate legal action will be taken, and they will not be allowed to enter the nomination room.

DSP (City Law and Order), Shivanand Singh, has been appointed as the Nodal Officer to oversee security and law and order arrangements during the nomination period.

The Bankipur bye-election has been necessitated by the resignation of former BJP MLA Nitin Nabin, who vacated the seat after being elected to the Rajya Sabha.

The Jan Suraaj Party has announced its founder, Prashant Kishor, as its candidate, making the election one of the most closely watched political contests in Bihar.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has yet to announce its nominee.

Senior party leaders, including Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and BJP State President Sanjay Saraogi, held a meeting on Sunday evening to discuss the bye-election strategy, but no official announcement regarding the party’s candidate has been made so far.

–IANS

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