Voting for by-elections in 13 assembly constituencies across seven states commenced at 7 am on Wednesday. This electoral exercise, the first significant one since the Lok Sabha elections, holds the potential to shape the political landscape for several regions. Notably, the by-elections feature a mix of political veterans and fresh faces, including Kamlesh Thakur, wife of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
The constituencies in focus are Raiganj, Ranaghat Dakshin, Bagda, and Maniktala in West Bengal; Badrinath and Manglaur in Uttarakhand; Jalandhar West in Punjab; Dehra, Hamirpur, and Nalagarh in Himachal Pradesh; Rupauli in Bihar; Vikravandi in Tamil Nadu; and Amarwara in Madhya Pradesh. The vacancies prompting these bypolls arose due to the deaths or resignations of the incumbent members.
Early Voter Turnout
As of 9 am, voter turnout has varied across the states. In Bihar?s Rupauli constituency, turnout was recorded at 9.23%. Himachal Pradesh saw robust participation with Hamirpur at 15.71%, Nalagarh at 16.48%, and Dehra at 15.70%. Madhya Pradesh?s Amarwara constituency reported a turnout of 16.90%. In Punjab, Jalandhar West saw 10.30% of voters turning up. Tamil Nadu?s Vikravandi had a 12.94% turnout. Uttarakhand?s Badrinath and Manglaur constituencies saw turnouts of 6.50% and 8.58%, respectively. In West Bengal, Raiganj and Maniktala reported turnouts of 12.01% and 9.01%, respectively.
Key Contests to Watch
Himachal Pradesh: Kamlesh Thakur, the wife of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, is the Congress nominee. Her candidacy has drawn significant attention, with her political debut being a focal point.
Punjab (Jalandhar West): Chief Minister Bhagwat Mann has been actively campaigning for the Aam Aadmi Party's candidate, Mohinder Bhagat, signaling the high stakes for the party in this constituency.
West Bengal: The bypolls in West Bengal are particularly intriguing as three of the four vacant seats were previously won by the BJP in 2021. Former BJP members Krishna Kalyani and Mukut Mani Adhikari are now contesting for the Trinamool Congress in Raiganj and Ranaghat Dakshin, respectively.
Uttarakhand: In the Badrinath constituency, Rajendra Bhandari, a former Congress MLA who joined the BJP, is facing Congress candidate Lakhpat Butola. In Manglaur, a Muslim-majority constituency, Congress has fielded senior leader Qazi Nizamuddin, while the BJP, which has never won this seat, is putting forward Kartar Singh Bhadana.
Tamil Nadu: The AIADMK has chosen to boycott the elections in Vikravandi, citing concerns over the fairness of the electoral process. This move adds an unusual twist to the bypoll dynamics.
Bihar: The RJD and JD(U) are the main contenders in Rupauli, with both parties fielding candidates from the predominant Gangota community, reflecting the region's socio-political fabric.
Madhya Pradesh: The BJP is aiming to challenge Congress veteran Kamal Nath?s stronghold by fielding Kamlesh Shah, while the Congress has nominated Dheeran Shah Invati in the tribal-dominated Amarwara constituency.
