Bhopal, March 9 (IANS): The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday announced the dates for by-elections in two Madhya Pradesh Assembly constituencies.

Polling will take place in Ater and Bandhavgarh (Scheduled Tribe) assembly constituencies in Bhind and Umariya districts, respectively, on April 9, while the counting of votes will be done on April 13, said a press release from the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer here.

According to the election schedule, the notification for the by-polls will be announced on March 14. Filing of nomination papers will commence from the same day and continue up to March 21. Scrutiny of nominations will be done on March 22 and withdrawal of candidature will be possible up to March 24.

The Ater seat fell vacant following the death of sitting MLA Satyadev Katare, while Bandhavgarh MLA Gyan Singh got elected as a Member of Parliament from the Shahdol Lok Sabha constituency.

Chief Electoral Officer Salina Singh has instructed the District Magistrates and election officials of the two districts to ensure proper implementation of the Model Code of Conduct in their respective jurisdictions.