Assembly bypolls: Voting underway for 8 seats in 7 states, high turnout in Punjab’s Tarn Taran
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Assembly by-elections: Voting underway for 8 seats across 7 states: Voting began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements for by-elections on 8 assembly seats in 6 states and 1 union territory. The seats where by-elections are being held include Budgam and Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir, Anta in Rajasthan, Ghatshila in Jharkhand, Jubilee Hills in Telangana, Tarn Taran in Punjab, Dampa in Mizoram and Nuapada in Odisha.
Seventeen candidates are contesting from the Budgam Assembly seat in Jammu and Kashmir. The National Conference has fielded Aga Syed Mahmood Al-Mosavi, the PDP has fielded Aga Syed Muntazir Mehndi, the BJP has fielded Aga Syed Mohsin Mosavi, and the Aam Aadmi Party has fielded Deeba Khan. Ten candidates are in the fray from Nagrota. The National Conference has fielded Shamim Begum, the BJP has fielded Devyani Rana, and the Aam Aadmi Party has fielded Joginder Singh.
Voting began on Tuesday morning amid tight security for the much-talked-about Tarn Taran Assembly by-election in Punjab. The seat fell vacant following the death of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal in June.
Fifteen candidates are contesting this seat. The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded Harmeet Singh Sandhu, a three-time MLA from Tarn Taran. Harjeet Singh Sandhu is contesting from the BJP, Sukhwinder Kaur from the Shiromani Akali Dal, and Karnabir Singh from the Congress.
A total of 15 candidates are in the fray in the Anta assembly constituency in Rajasthan's Baran district. The seat fell vacant after the sitting MLA (BJP), Kanwar Lal Meena, was disqualified following his conviction in a criminal case. Former minister Pramod Jain "Bhaya" is contesting as the Congress candidate, while the BJP has fielded Morpal Suman.
Voters in Jharkhand's Ghatsila assembly seat will decide the electoral fate of 13 candidates. The main contest is between Somesh Chandra Soren of the ruling JMM and Babulal Soren of the BJP, son of former Chief Minister Champai Soren. Somesh Chandra is the son of JMM MLA Ramdas Soren, whose death necessitated the by-election.
Five candidates are contesting the Dampa Assembly seat in Mizoram. The main opposition MNF has nominated its senior vice president, R. Lalthangliana. The Congress has fielded party vice president John Rotluangliana, while the BJP has nominated Lalhmingthanga. The by-election was necessitated by the death of sitting MNF MLA Lalrintluanga Sailo.
The by-election for Odisha's Nuapada assembly seat will decide the fate of 14 candidates. The main candidates are Snehangini Chhuria of the BJD, Jay Dholakia of the BJP, Ghasiram Majhi of the Congress, and Ramakant Hati of the Samajwadi Party. The by-election was necessitated by the death of BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8.
The Jubilee Hills by-election in Telangana is a highly contested one. 58 candidates are contesting the election. The BJP has nominated Deepak Reddy, the Congress has nominated Naveen Yadav, and the BRS has nominated Maganti Sunitha.