Bypoll 2023: First Electoral Face-off For INDIA Bloc In 6 States (image-www.twitter/congress)
The opposition INDIA (India National Developmental Alliance) bloc and BJP-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) are set for their first face-off in seven assembly seats across six states, ahead of state assembly elections later this year and Lokh Sabha election in 2024.
The byelections will be held in Ghosi in Uttar Pradesh, Dhupguri in West Bengal, Puthuppally in Kerala, Bageshwar in Uttarakhand, Dumri in Jharkhand and Boxanagar and Dhanpur in Tripura.
The counting of all seven seats will be held on September 8.
The bypolls in Dhupguri, Puthuppally, Bageshwar, Dumri and Boxanagar were necessitated due to the deaths of the sitting MLAs, while in Ghosi and and Dhanpur , their MLAs resignation led to fresh polls.
Polling for bypolls in six states began at 7am.
Utter Pradesh
The resignation of Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA OBC leader Dara Singh Chauhan left the Ghosi seat vacant. Chauhan had rejoined BJP and is now contesting for the same seat as an NDA candidate. And he will be facing SP’s Sudhakar Singh for this election.
West Bengal
Dhupguri in North Bengal will witness a three-cornered contest among the Trinamool Congress, BJP and the Congress-supported CPI(M). The bypoll to the seat was necessitated by the death of its sitting BJP MLA, Bishu Pada Ray, earlier this year. The BJP is fielding Tapasi Roy against TMC candidate Nirmal Chandra Roy and the CPI(M) candidate Ishwar Chandra Roy.
Tripura
Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik’s resignation as the MLA to retain her Lokh Saba seat left the assembly vacant.The Congress has decided to support CPI(M) candidate Mizan Hussain. Hussain will face BJP”s Tafajjal Hussain, who unsuccessfully contested the assembly election in February in minority-dominated Boxanagar constituency.
Dhanpur is heading for a direct fight between BJP”s Bindu Debnath and CPI(M)’s Kaushik Debnath.
Jharkhand
The death of JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) MLA Jagarnath Mahto, former education minister, in April , necessitated bypoll in Dumri. Mahto’s wife Bebi Devi is nominated as the INDIA bloc, while AJSU party’s Yashoda Devi will be the NDA candidate.
Kerala
The parties of India bloc will face eachother in Puthupally. The seat fell vacant after the demise of Congress stalwart and former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
The Congress led opposition has fielded Oommen Chandy’s son, Chandy Oomen against DYFI leader Jaick C, candidate of CPI(M). Kottayam district president G.Lijin Lal is the BJP candidate.
Uttarakhand
The bypoll to the Bageshwar assembly seat in Uttarakhand was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA and cabinet minister Chandan Ram Das in April. BJP has fielded Das’ widow Parvati in the bypoll and is hoping to gain sympathy votes to retain the seat. There are four other candidates- Congress’ Basant Kumar, Samajwadi Party’s Bhagvati Prasad, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal’s Arjun Dev and Uttarakhand Parivartan Party’s Bhagwat Kohli.
