Gyanesh Kumar briefs the media in Delhi.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Bypolls to eight Assembly constituencies in seven states and union territories, including two in Jammu and Kashmir that have been vacant since October last year, will be held on November 11.
Death, resignation and disqualification of elected MLAs were the reasons for the seats becoming vacant. The counting of votes will be on November 14.
The seats that will see bypolls are Budgam and Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir, Anta in Rajasthan, Ghatsila (Jharkhand), Jubilee Hills (Telangana), Tarn Taran (Punjab), Dampa (Mizoram) and Naupada (Odisha), Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said.
Budgam had fallen vacant on October 21 last year following Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's resignation, as he chose to retain the Ganderbal constituency. Nagrota fell vacant on October 31 last year after the death of BJP MLA Devender Singh Rana.
There had been demands for holding bypolls at the earliest but winter and subsequent Pahalgam terror strike forced the EC to delay the conduct of the poll. The ruling National Conference will be aiming to consolidate its position by winning both the seats to send a message to the BJP.
Disqualification of Kanwarlal Meena following his conviction in a 20-year-old case involving pointing a pistol at a sub-divisional magistrate led to Anta seat in Rajasthan falling vacant. In the 2023 Assembly elections, Meena had defeated Congress candidate Pramod Jain Bhaya.
Death of JMM MLA Ramdas Soren has led to the bypoll in Jharkhand's Ghatsila, while passing away of MNF lawmaker Lalrintluanga Saila has necessitated an election in Mizoram's Dampa.
Telangana's Jubilee Hills will also be going to bypolls due to the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath's death. A Revanth Reddy-led ruling Congress would be looking to usurp the seat from its rival BRS to ascertain its position in the state.
AAP will be hoping to retain Tarn Taran seat, which fell vacant following the death of sitting MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal. The bypoll in Odisha's Naupada, which fell vacant following the death of BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, will be an acid test for the Naveen Patnaik-led party.