By-election in Sonia's seat on May 8

The seat fell vacant as Sonia Gandhi, the chief of ruling Congress party, had quit 12 days ago in the wake of a controversy over lawmakers facing disqualification for allegedly occupying office of profit.

The counting of the by-polls to the Lok Sabha seat, which should see 59-year-old Sonia comfortably winning once again, has been fixed on May 11. The following day, Parliament session would start discussing a special law to prevent lawmakers from being disqualified for occupying offices of profit.

Election Commission spokesman denied it was in a "tearing hurry" to announce the by-polls to Rae Bareli seat in Uttar Pradesh state to help Sonia.