Vote counting for bypolls in seven assembly seats across five states is scheduled for Monday. These bypolls were conducted on April 9 and April 23 in constituencies in Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura. The elections were triggered by the demise of sitting MLAs in those seats, leading to closely watched contests between major political parties.
In Maharashtra, the Baramati seat in Pune district, known as a stronghold of the influential Pawar family, has garnered significant attention. The seat became vacant following the tragic death of sitting MLA Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28. NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, his wife, is contesting from this constituency, making it one of the most high-profile contests in the bypolls.
In Karnataka, bypolls were held in Bagalkot and Davanagere South after the passing of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa. These contests are seen as a prestige battle between the ruling Congress and the BJP.
The Umreth seat in Anand district of Gujarat went to polls due to the demise of BJP MLA Govind Parmar. The main competition is between BJP candidate Harshad Parmar, the late MLA’s son, and Congress nominee Bhrugurajsinh Chauhan, among others.
Nagaland’s Koridang seat in Mokokchung district witnessed a multi-cornered contest following the death of BJP MLA Imkong L Imchen. Six candidates, including BJP’s Daochier I Imchen, are in the fray, along with candidates from Congress, NPP, and Independent parties.
In Tripura, the Dharmanagar seat saw a triangular contest involving the BJP, Congress, and CPI(M)-led Left Front after the demise of Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen in December. Key candidates include BJP’s Jahar Chakraborti, Congress’s Chayan Bhattacharjee, and CPI(M)’s Amitabha Datta.
Additionally, the scheduled bypoll in Goa’s Ponda constituency was canceled by the Bombay High Court just hours before polling was to take place.
