Mumbai, April 14 (IANS) Following the Bombay High Court's go-ahead, the Election Commission (EC) Thursday announced the schedule for the by-election for a vacant seat in the Maharashtra legislative council, which Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is to contest.

The EC said that notification for the by-election would be issued April 18.

The last date for filing nominations is April 25, and the scrutiny will be conducted April 26.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 28. Polling, if necessary, will take place May 5 - and counting of votes will be conducted the same day.

The entire process will be completed by May 7.

The chief minister will be contesting the election to enter the state legislature, as per constitutional requirements.

The seat fell vacant after council member Sanjay Dutt of the Congress resigned to facilitate Chavan's election March 11 this year. Dutt's term was to end July 7, 2016.

The Bombay High Court gave a ruling Wednesday permitting the EC to go ahead with the poll process.

Justice R.P. Sundarbaldota's ruling came in response to the EC's application of April 11 to allow it to conduct the by-election.

Former Shiv Sena member of legislative council Anil Parab in January challenged the June 2010 council elections in which four Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) legislators were allowed to cast their vote though they were suspended from the house for unruly behaviour.

Prithviraj Chavan took over as the chief minister Nov 11, 2010, replacing Ashok Chavan who resigned over the Adarsh Society scam.

Chavan must get elected to either house of the state legislature to continue as the chief minister after May 11.