Visakhapatnam poll date changed

The Election Commission on Thursday decided to shift the date of polling in the Visakhapatnam Assembly constituency to April 24.

The commission had earlier decided that the by-election to the constituency will be held on March 25. A decision to change the polling date has been taken in view of school examinations, EC sources said, adding that the state government had also sought a change in the schedule.

The commission had earlier countermanded the by-election and declared fresh polls following allegations of large-scale electoral malpractices including attempts to bribe voters.

The by-election was necessitated following the death of Congress member D Satyanarayana.