Big NDA vs INDIA bloc contest on cards as bypolls in Wayanad LS constituency, 31 assembly seats today

The bypolls are seen as a litmus test for both the BJP-led NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc

Updated on: Nov 13, 2024, 03:51:08 IST

By HT News Desk

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All eyes are on the crucial bypolls in Wayanad Lok Sabha seat and 31 assembly constituencies across 10 states scheduled to take place on Wednesday. The bypolls will be held alongside voting in the first phase of Jharkhand assembly elections.

The bypolls are seen as a litmus test for both the BJP-led NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc amid the assembly elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra.

Most of the bypolls are being held because the seats were vacated by members after their victory in the Lok Sabha seats. While some constituencies are witnessing bypolls due to deaths of the respective members.

Polling will be held in seven seats in Rajasthan, six in West Bengal, five in Assam, four seats in Bihar, three in Karnataka, two seats in Madhya Pradesh, and one seat each in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala and Meghalaya.

Nine seats in Uttar Pradesh, four in Punjab and one more seat in Kerala were also scheduled to go to polls, but the Election Commission rescheduled voting in these constituencies to November 20.

In Sikkim's Soreng-Chakung and Namchi-Singhithang seats, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) nominees Aditya Golay and Satish Chandra Rai have already been declared unopposed after their rivals withdrew from the race.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is contesting her first election from Kerala's Wayanad.

Wayanad Lok Sabha

Wayanad in Kerala is the most high-profile Lok Sabha seat going to bypolls. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be making her electoral debut in this constituency.

The by-election was necessitated after her brother Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat and chose to represent Raebareli in the Lok Sabha. Vadra is pitted against LDF's Sathyan Mokeri, NDA's Navya Haridas and 13 others. This year, Rahul's victory margin was over 3.5 lakh votes while in 2019, it was over 4.3 lakh votes.

ALSO READ: ‘Make Wayanad best tourist destination’: Rahul Gandhi's challenge to ‘little sister' Priyanka Vadra

Rajasthan

Bypolls will be held in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu, Dausa, Deoli-Uniara, Khinvsar, Chaurasi, Salumbar and Ramgarh seats.

West Bengal

Six seats namely Taldangra, Sitai-SC, Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, and Madarihat will be up for grabs in West Bengal. Out of these, the ruling Trinamool Congress had won five in the 2021 assembly polls. The Madarihat seat was held by the BJP.

Assam

In Assam's five seats- Dholai, Behali, Samaguri, Bongaigaon and Sidli, there are a total of 34 candidates in fray. The INDIA bloc could not build on a consensus in deciding the candidate for Behali with the Congress deciding to field its candidate at the last moment, disagreeing with the alliance's resolution to give the seat to CPI(ML) Liberation.

Bihar

In Bihar, Ramgarh, Tarari, Imamganj and Belaganj will witness bypolls. The elections are being seen as a litmus test for both the NDA and INDIA bloc ahead of the assembly polls scheduled next year.

Karnataka

In Karnataka, Channapatna, Shiggaon and Sandur will witness bypolls. JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy is contesting from Channapatna, a seat vacated by his father and Union minister H D Kumaraswamy after being elected to Lok Sabha.

Madhya Pradesh

In Madhya Pradesh, Budhni and Vijaypur seats will go to bypolls. Voting will also be held in Budhni and Vijaypur assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh. The bypoll to Vijaypur seat in Sheopur district was necessitated after sitting Congress MLA Ramniwas Rawat joined the BJP and was made minister in the Mohan Yadav cabinet.

The bypoll to Budhni seat is being held since MLA and former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was elected to the Lok Sabha and is now Union agriculture minister.

The other seats going to bypolls are Chelakkara in Kerala, Vav in Gujarat, Raipur City South in Chhattisgarh and Gambegre (ST) in Meghalaya.

Counting of votes in the byolls will be held on November 23.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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