2024 Bypoll Results: Vote Counting Begins Across Eight Assembly Seats in Six States and J&K

Patna:

The counting of votes has commenced for eight assembly seats spanning across six states and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Simultaneously, the tallying process has begun in Bihar, where a fierce electoral battle is unfolding between the opposition Mahagathbandhan and the governing NDA.

Here are the key highlights of this significant political development:

Bypolls were conducted across multiple regions: two assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, and one each in Punjab, Telangana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Mizoram.

In Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the electoral contest was necessitated after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chose to retain Ganderbal following his victory in both constituencies in 2024. The primary contenders are Aga Syed Mehmood representing the ruling National Conference and Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi from Mehbooba Mufti's Peoples' Democratic Party.

The Nagrota constituency in J&K became vacant following BJP legislator Devender Singh Rana's passing last year. The main electoral rivals include BJP's Devyani Rana, National Conference's Shamim Begum, and Harsh Dev Singh from the J&K National Panthers Party.

A triangular contest is shaping up in Punjab's Tarn Taran, where Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party aims to maintain its hold on the seat previously occupied by its late MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal. AAP has nominated Harmeet Singh Sandhu, a three-term MLA who joined the party in July.

The Congress party has fielded its Tarn Taran district unit committee president, Karanbir Singh Burj. Meanwhile, SAD has placed its confidence in Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, a retired government school principal and spouse of a "Dharmi Fauji."

In Rajasthan's Baran district, a bypoll was held for the Anta constituency after BJP's incumbent MLA Kanwar Lal Meena was disqualified following a conviction related to a 2005 case. The electoral contest primarily features Congress's Pramod Jai Bhaya competing against BJP's Morpal Suman.

Jharkhand's Ghatshila constituency is witnessing a high-profile electoral battle between Babulal Soren, son of former BJP Chief Minister Champai Soren, and Mahagathbandhan candidate Somesh Chandra Soren.

The vacancy in Odisha's Nuapada Assembly constituency arose following senior BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia's demise in September. The BJP has nominated his son Jay Dholakia to compete against BJD's women's wing leader Snehangini Chhuria. The Congress party has fielded experienced tribal leader Ghasiram Majhi.

Telangana's Jubilee Hills witnessed an intense electoral contest involving Congress's Naveen Yadav, a Backwards Classes leader, Bharat Rashtra Samithi's Sunitha, and BJP's Lankala Deepak Reddy.

Mizoram's Dampa constituency has been captivated by a four-way contest featuring BJP's Lalhmingthanga Sailo, Congress's John Rotluangliana, former state minister R Lalthangliana of MNF, and Zoram People's Movement's Vanlalsailova. The bypolls became necessary following the death of MNF's sitting MLA Lalrintluanga Sailo in July.