New Delhi - The counting of votes for seven assembly seats across six Indian states, which underwent bypolls last Tuesday, is scheduled to commence at 8:00 AM today at designated centers within each respective state. These bypoll results are being closely observed as a litmus test for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, which stands in opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This test holds particular significance as it precedes five state assembly elections later this year and the pivotal Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
The seven assembly seats subject to these bypolls encompass Bageshwar in Uttarakhand, Ghosi in Uttar Pradesh, Puthuppally in Kerala, Dhupguri in West Bengal, Dumri in Jharkhand, and Boxanagar and Dhanpur in Tripura. Notably, the BJP held the Bageshwar, Dhupguri, and Dhanpur seats, while the Samajwadi Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and Congress held the Ghosi, Boxanagar, Dumri, and Puthuppally seats, respectively.
The Ghosi Assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh saw a turnout of only 49.42% in the recent by-election, while Dumri in Jharkhand recorded a turnout of 64.84%, and Bageshwar in Uttarakhand had a voter turnout of 55.35%. Conversely, Boxanagar and Dhanpur in Tripura witnessed high voter turnout with 86.34% and 81.88% respectively, and Dhupguri in West Bengal had a turnout of 74.35%.
In Ghosi, the bypoll became necessary after Dara Singh Chauhan, who had previously won the seat in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls under the Samajwadi Party banner, returned to the BJP and subsequently contested the by-election for the BJP. The Samajwadi Party fielded Sudhakar Singh as their candidate.
In Dhanpur, Tripura, the bye-election was prompted by the resignation of the BJP's Pratima Bhoumik, who sought to retain her Lok Sabha seat, leaving the assembly vacant. Bindu Debnath, Bhoumik's brother, contested for the BJP against Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) candidate Kaushik Chanda in the bypolls. In Boxanagar, Tripura, the by-election took place following the demise of CPI (MK) MLA Samsul Haque, leading to a contest between the BJP and CPI (M).
The Bageshwar seat in Uttarakhand saw a competitive battle between the Samajwadi Party, Congress, and BJP after the unfortunate passing of BJP MLA Chandan Ram Dass. In Kerala's Puthupally, the bypolls were necessitated by the passing of Congress veteran Oomen Chandy, with Congress fielding Oommen Chandy's son, Chandy Oomen, while the ruling CPI (M) presented Jaick C. Thomas as their candidate.
In Jharkhand's Dumri, the bypoll was prompted by the passing of JMM MLA Jagarnath Mahto, leading to JMM fielding Mahto's wife, Bebi Devi, representing the INDIA bloc against NDA's Yashoda Devu and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) candidate Abdul Rizvi. Lastly, in West Bengal's Dhupguri, the bye-election was necessary following the passing of BJP's Bishnu Pada Ray, leading to a contest between Tapas Ray from the BJP, Nirma Chandra Roy, and CPI (M) candidate Ishwar Chandra Roy.