Contrary to the high voter turnout in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the by-elections for three seats, one in Gujarat and two in Maharashtra, began with a modest start. By Thursday noon, the polling percentage was around 30 per cent. In Gujarat’s Umreth seat, the polling rate was 37.14 per cent by 1 p.m., while in Maharashtra’s Baramati and Rahuri, it stood at 31.91 per cent and 29.68 per cent respectively.
Earlier, the Umreth seat in Gujarat saw 26 per cent voting by 11 a.m., with the two Maharashtra seats recording close to 20 per cent each. These by-elections aim to fill the Assembly constituencies in the two states that became vacant before their term completion. In Maharashtra, the by-elections were triggered by the unfortunate passing of sitting legislators.
The by-elections in Maharashtra were necessitated due to the untimely demise of sitting legislators in Rahuri and Baramati, namely Shivaji Bhanudas Kardile and Ajit Pawar respectively. In Gujarat, voting is ongoing in the Umreth Assembly constituency following the death of MLA Govind Parmar. These by-elections were announced for eight constituencies across six states, with Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura being part of the electoral process.
Assembly constituencies in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura went to polls on April 9, while Gujarat and Maharashtra are voting on Thursday. Meanwhile, brisk voting is also taking place in Tamil Nadu and the first phase of the Assembly elections in West Bengal, with voting set to conclude in both states by 6 p.m. on Thursday. The Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, consisting of 234 constituencies, are being conducted in a single phase, while West Bengal’s elections are spread over two phases.
In the first phase of polling in West Bengal, a total of 1,478 candidates are contesting. The counting of votes for all by-elections is scheduled for May 4, the same day when results for Assembly elections in Assam, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry will be announced.
