Bypolls for 15 assembly seats across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala and Uttarakhand are being held on Wednesday (November 20). The voting began at 7 am and the votes will be counted on November 23.

Voting for Uttar Pradesh’s nine Assembly Bypolls

Polling underway for nine assembly by-elections in Uttar Pradesh. The constituencies going to the polls are Katehari, Karhal, Mirapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur and Kundarki. These bypolls were triggered by vacancies from MLAs elected to the Lok Sabha, and the disqualification of Samajwadi Party’s Irfan Solanki in Sisamau. 

Maharashtra Election Voting Live Updates

The Congress is supporting the Samajwadi Party, while the BSP contests all nine seats. A total of 90 candidates are in the race, with over 34 lakh voters, including nearly 16 lakh women. The BJP holds a majority in the state assembly, making the bypoll results unlikely to change the political balance.

Punjab Assembly Bypolls underway

Polling underway in Punjab for by-elections in Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, and Barnala assembly constituencies. These bypolls were necessitated after the sitting MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha. Voting will continue until 6 PM. A total of 45 candidates, including three women, are contesting. 

Jharkhand Election 2024 Live Updates

Key contenders include BJP’s Manpreet Singh Badal, Kewal Singh Dhillon, Sohan Singh Thandal, and Ravikaran Singh Kahlon, Congress’ Amrita Warring and Jatinder Kaur, and AAP’s Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon and Ishank Kumar Chabbewal. Amrita Warring and Jatinder Kaur are spouses of prominent Congress MPs, adding political weight to their campaigns. 

Security measures include the deployment of over 6,400 police personnel and 17 companies of CAPF, with 100% webcasting at polling stations. AAP currently dominates the 117-member Punjab Assembly with 91 MLAs, while the Congress has 15 and the BJP holds two seats.

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Kerala Bypoll in Palakkad constituency

Voting is currently underway for the Palakkad assembly by-election in Kerala. This election follows the resignation of Congress leader Shafi Parambil after his Lok Sabha victory. Ten candidates, including Rahul Mamkootathil (UDF), C. Krishnakumar (BJP-NDA), and P. Sarin (CPI(M)-LDF), are in the fray. 

The bypoll has seen significant controversy, and security has been heightened with central forces and live webcasting at polling stations. The result is important for the Congress-led UDF to retain the seat amid challenges from the LDF.

Polling for Kedarnath by-election underway

Polling for the by-election to the Kedarnath assembly seat in Uttarakhand is underway as well. The seat, located in Rudraprayag district, became vacant after the passing of BJP MLA Shaila Rani Rawat in July. There are six candidates contesting, with BJP’s Asha Nautiyal and Congress’s Manoj Rawat emerging as the key contenders. 

A total of 173 polling booths have been set up, and CCTV cameras have been installed in 130 of them to ensure security and transparency. The bypoll is crucial for both the BJP and Congress. The BJP aims to retain the seat, while the Congress is determined to defeat the BJP in this key constituency, following a similar challenge in Badrinath.

Nanded Lok Sabha seat voting underway

Voting is currently underway on Nanded Lok Sabha seat of Maharashtra, which is vacant due to the death of Congress MP Vasantrao Chavan. He died in August 2024, just two months after the Lok Sabha elections. The party has fielded his son Ravindra Chavan as the candidate. At the same time, Dr. Santuk Hambarde is in the fray for this Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket.