The Election Commission on Thursday decided to shift the date of polling in the Visakhapatnam Assembly constituency to April 24.

The commission had earlier decided that the by-election to the constituency will be held on March 25. A decision to change the polling date has been taken in view of school examinations, EC sources said, adding that the state government had also sought a change in the schedule.

The commission had earlier countermanded the by-election and declared fresh polls following allegations of large-scale electoral malpractices including attempts to bribe voters.

The by-election was necessitated following the death of Congress member D Satyanarayana.