New Delhi: The Election Commission yesterday announced by-elections to four Assembly seats, including Panaji, from where Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is likely to contest.

The by-elections in Bawana (Delhi), Panaji and Valpoi (Goa) and Nandyal (Andhra Pradesh) will be held on August 23. The notification for the by-elections would be issued on July 29, beginning the nomination process.

While August 5 is the last date of filing nominations, August 9 is the last date of withdrawing from the electoral battle, an EC statement said. The counting will take place on August 28.

The Bawana seat was vacated after AAP MLA Ved Prakash had resigned to join the BJP. Parrikar had represented the Panaji Assembly seat in the Goa Assembly till he was appointed Defence Minister in the Modi government.

With Parrikar becoming the CM again after the recent Assembly polls, he should become an MLA within six months of taking oath. Siddharth Kuncalienkar (BJP) had recently resigned from the Panaji seat to make way for Parrikar’s election as MLA.

Parrikar continues to be a Rajya Sabha member. The by-poll to Valpoi seat in Goa was necessitated after sitting Congress MLA Vishwajeet Rane had resigned to join BJP. The by-poll to the Nandyal seat is taking place as the sitting MLA from TDP had passed away following a cardiac arrest.