The Election Commission of India has announced by-elections for several assembly and Lok Sabha seats across multiple states, with polling scheduled in April and counting on May 4. The bypolls will cover eight assembly constituencies in six states along with two Lok Sabha seats.

The Lok Sabha constituencies where by-elections will take place are Basirhat in West Bengal and Shillong in Meghalaya. These bypolls have been scheduled alongside the ongoing assembly election process in different parts of the country.

For assembly seats, the Election Commission has announced bypolls in Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Tripura. The constituencies include Ponda in Goa, Umreth in Gujarat, Bagalkot and Davanagere South in Karnataka, Rahuri and Baramati in Maharashtra, Koridang in Nagaland and Dharmanagar in Tripura. Additional assembly bypolls may also take place in seats such as Tadubi and Thanlon in Manipur and Faridpur, Ghosi and Duddhi in Uttar Pradesh as part of the Commission’s phased election rollout.

These by-elections are being conducted to fill vacancies caused by deaths, resignations or disqualifications of sitting members. The Election Commission said the move ensures that citizens continue to have representation in their respective legislative bodies.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced the schedule during a press conference in the national capital. He said polling for assembly constituencies in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura will take place on April 9, while the constituencies in Gujarat and Maharashtra will go to the polls on April 23. Counting of votes for all these seats will take place on May 4.

According to the Election Commission, the two-phase structure has been designed to align with the larger assembly election schedule across the country. Phase one will include Ponda in Goa, Bagalkot and Davanagere South in Karnataka, Koridang in Nagaland and Dharmanagar in Tripura. Phase two will include Umreth in Gujarat and the two Maharashtra seats of Baramati and Rahuri.

The Chief Election Commissioner also urged voters, particularly first-time voters, to participate actively in the democratic process. The Commission has updated electoral rolls and deployed Central Observers to ensure fair and transparent elections.

In Maharashtra, two assembly seats will see by-elections. The Baramati seat fell vacant after the death of Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28. The party has nominated Sunetra Pawar, who is currently serving as Deputy Chief Minister, to contest the seat. As she is not currently a member of the state legislature, she must win a seat within six months to continue in office.

There are indications that she may win the seat unopposed as opposition parties may avoid fielding candidates in Baramati. Meanwhile, her son Parth Pawar is likely to be nominated for her Rajya Sabha seat if she enters the Maharashtra Assembly.

The Rahuri constituency in Ahilyanagar district will also go to polls after the death of BJP MLA Shivaji Kardile last October due to a heart attack. Unlike Baramati, this seat is expected to witness a direct contest between the ruling alliance and the opposition.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that unopposed elections would be ideal for both seats but added that the ruling Mahayuti alliance is fully prepared for a contest if opposition parties decide to field candidates.

With polling scheduled next month, political parties have begun preparations for the by-elections which are expected to carry significant political importance in several states.