- The bypolls, Ghosi in UP, Dhupguri in West Bengal, Puthuppally in Kerala, Bageshwar in Uttarakhand, Dumri in Jharkhand and Boxanagar and Dhanpur in Tripura- are significant for the INDIA bloc.
- Polling is today, and the counting of votes will be held on September 8.
- The opposition alliance comprises 28 parties including the Congress, NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT), TMC, JMM, AAP, DMK, NC, PDP, CPI(M), CPI, RJD, SP and RLD.
- The results will reveal if they have a shot against the BJP and prove if they are a viable option
Polling for the bypolls in Ghosi, Dumri, Dhanpur, Boxanagar, Bageshwar, Dhupguri, and Puthuppally began at 7 a.m.
In what could be seen as a litmus test for the Opposition bloc –Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of crucial state assembly polls later this year and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Polling for the bypolls in Ghosi constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand’s Dumri, Dhanpur, and Boxanagar in Tripura, Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar, Dhupguri in West Bengal, and Puthuppally in Kerala began at 7 am. The counting of votes will be held on September 8.
The opposition alliance comprises 28 parties including the Congress, NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT), TMC, JMM, AAP, DMK, NC, PDP, CPI(M), CPI, RJD, SP and RLD.
Ghosi, Uttar Pradesh
The Ghosi seat fell vacant after the resignation of Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA and OBC leader Dara Singh Chauhan, who re-joined the BJP. Chauhan is now contesting for the same seat on an NDA ticket, while Samajwadi Party candidate Sudhakar Singh has received the support of the Congress and Left parties.
Chauhan was earlier a minister in the previous BJP government headed by Yogi Adityanath. On January 12 last year, he resigned from the council of ministers and switched to the SP.
Dhupguri, West Bengal
The Dhupguri assembly seat fell vacated after the death of BJP’s Bishnu Pada Ray. The BJP is fielding Tapasi Roy against TMC candidate Nirmal Chandra Roy and the CPI(M) candidate Ishwar Chandra Roy. This assembly constituency is witnessing a three-cornered contest among the Trinamool Congress, BJP, and the Congress-supported CPI(M). While the TMC had won the seat in 2016, it was snatched by the BJP in 2021.
Dhanpur and Boxanagar, Tripura
Dhanpur, once a strong bastion of the communists, is heading for a direct fight between BJP’s Bindu Debnath and CPI(M)’s Kaushik Debnath. Tipra Motha, the main opposition, and Congress have stayed away. On Sunday, the Tripura Pradesh Congress urged people to vote for opposition bloc INDIA candidates in the two seats. BJP’s Tafajjal Hussain, is contesting against CPI(M)’s Mizan Hussain in minority-dominated Boxanagar constituency, which is still considered the Left party’s stronghold.
Dumri, Jharkhand
The bypoll was necessitated following the death of JMM MLA Jagarnath Mahto, former education minister, in April. Mahto had been representing the seat since 2004.
In Jharkhand’s Dumri, INDIA bloc candidate Bebi Devi is taking on NDA’s Yashoda Devi. The seat has turned out to be a prestigious one for both alliances amid Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) claiming that the INDIA bloc will begin its victory journey from Dumri, while the NDA exuded confidence that it is all set to snatch the seat from JMM.
Puthuppally, Kerala
In Kerala Puthuppally, the Congress and the ruling Left have decided to take on each other, with the opposition party in the state banking on “anti-incumbency” and the late Oommen Chandy’s legacy.
Bageshwar, Uttarakhand
The by-election was prompted by the death of BJP MLA Chandan Ram Dass. In the Bageshwar seat, the Samajwadi Party, Congress, and BJP will feature a contest against each other. The BJP is fielding Dass’s wife Parwati against Congress’s Basant Kumar and SP’s Bhagawati Prasad. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and other top BJP leaders campaigned for Dass.
(With inputs from agencies)
