Voting for by-elections to five assembly constituencies in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as well as one Lok Sabha constituency in Assam are underway.
In West Bengal, bypolls are being held in Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly constituencies. The high-profile Nandigram constituency fell empty after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari won two seats in the state elections earlier this year and decided to vacate one.
In Rejinagar, the BJP, Congress, the AGAUP as well as two factions of the Trinamool Congress are contesting. Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir was detained and taken away from the party office in Rejinagar amid polling, following a verbal altercation with the police. The AJUP has fielded Mr. Kabir’s son Ghulam Md. Azad from the seat.
Meanwhile, Congress block president Ashraful Tulla was detained by Nandigram police, said the party on Tuesday. As of 9 a.m., bypolls in West Bengal’s Rejinagar was recorded at 18.05 %, while Nandigram witnessed 20.89% turnout.
In Tamil Nadu, the assembly constituencies going to poll are Madurantakam (SC) in Chengalpattu district and Dharapuram (SC) in Tiruppur. The two assembly segments were declared vacant following the AIADMK MLAs K Maragatham Kumaravel and P Satyabama, who later joined the ruling TVK. Both have been re-nominated from their respective seats. The DMK and AIADMK are also contesting both constituencies.
Thattanchavady assembly constituency, the Union Territory of Puducherry, is also facing polls.
As of 9 a.m., just 19 percent voter turnout was recorded. Two Lok Sabha candidates are contesting in the bypoll in Puducherry, sealing the mandate of 26,921 electors, including 14,341 women, 12,575 men and five transgenders.
By-elections in Assam’s Lok Sabha constituency are witnessing a triangular contest amongst BJP, Congress and AIDU.