The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced a revised schedule for the crucial by-election to the Sir assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh. This move comes as a significant update for voters and political parties in the region, altering the previously announced electoral calendar.
Revised Polling and Counting Dates
According to the fresh notification issued by the commission, the date of polling has been rescheduled. The voting will now take place on January 19, 2026. Subsequently, the process of counting votes and the declaration of results has also been shifted. The counting of votes is now slated for January 22, 2026.
This by-election is being held to fill the vacancy in the Sir (SC Reserved) assembly seat, which falls under the Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh. The seat became vacant following the disqualification of the sitting MLA, Chandrashekhar, of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) party. His disqualification was a result of his conviction in a criminal case by a special MP/MLA court in Lucknow.
Key Details of the Election Process
The electoral process will follow the standard procedure under the watchful eye of the ECI. The notification for the by-election will be issued on December 30, 2025. This marks the formal start of the nomination process for candidates.
The last date for filing nominations is January 6, 2026. This gives aspiring candidates a window to submit their papers to the returning officer. Following this, the scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on January 7, 2026, to ensure all documents and affidavits are in order as per the law.
Candidates will have the opportunity to withdraw their nominations if they choose to do so. The deadline for withdrawal of candidatures is January 8, 2026. After this date, the final list of contesting candidates will be published, setting the stage for the campaign period leading up to polling day.
Political Significance and Context
The Sir by-election holds considerable political weight in the state's landscape. The constituency is a reserved seat, and the outcome will be closely watched as an indicator of political sentiment. The vacancy arose from a legal conviction, highlighting the application of the Supreme Court's guidelines regarding the disqualification of convicted lawmakers.
With the new dates in place, political parties are expected to recalibrate their campaign strategies. The revised timeline provides a clear roadmap for all stakeholders, including election officials, security forces, and the electorate. The Election Commission's decision to revise the dates underscores its commitment to ensuring a smooth, fair, and well-organized electoral process.
Voters in the Sir constituency are now gearing up to exercise their franchise on the new polling date to choose their new representative in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
