On Thursday, Bipols were held in five assembly segments in Punjab, West Bengal, Gujarat and Kerala, a 73.26% voter polling with Nilambur seat in Kerala and 51.33% voting percentage in Ludhiana West in Punjab.
Bipol and Junagadh were peaceful in Bipol and Junagadh in Kadhi assembly seats in Mehsana district of Gujarat and 57.90% and 56.89% polling was recorded on Thursday, a release from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer on Thursday.
Kadi bipol was required after the death of BJP MLA Karshan Solanki in February this year. The seat is reserved for SC communities and a total of eight candidates were in the fray.
The BJP fielded Rajendra Chavda and the Congress chose Ramesh Chavada, a former MLA from the same seat. AAP nominated Jagdish Chavada.
On the seat of Visvadar, AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayain required bypoll after resigning in December 2023 and later joining BJP. However, in the elections, the party fielded former Junagadh district president and local cooperative leader, Kirit Patel against senior AAP leader Gopal Italia and Congress’s Nitin Ranparia.
In Ludhiana West, Bipol saw the lowest turnout at 51.33%since 2007, as the polling in this urban constituency of Punjab was largely peaceful, stopping some incidents. In 2007, polling was 58.92%, while the highest polling was recorded at 69.66%in 2012. The by -election was required after the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi in January this year.
In West Bengal, Kaliganj Bipol recorded a voting of 69.85% amid peaceful voting. However, after taking cognizance of the reports from the presiding officer, the Election Commission has sought a report that BJP candidate for Kaliganj seat, Ashish Ghosh, made a obscene gesture after casting his vote on Thursday, EC has also demanded CCTV footage of the booth.
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Meanwhile, both BJP and Congress accused the ruling TMC of “terrorized” voting agents of their parties. The poll panel deployed 14 companies of central forces for Bipol in the seat.
Congress candidate Kaabil Udin Sheikh, left front, supported by Alifa Ahmed of TMC, is in addition to Ghosh of BJP. Bipol was required due to the death of Alifa Ahmed’s father Naseeruddin Ahmed in February this year.
Voting in Nilambur Bipol in Kerala saw a stable voting during the day, but slowed towards the evening and crossed 70% points at 5 pm. Voting was 73.26% according to the latest data by EC.
In 2021 assembly elections, voting was 75.20%. Among the 10 candidates, lead contenders LDF Pick M. Swaraj, Aryadan Shukath (Congress -led UDF), TMC state convenor and independent candidate PV Anwar, and BJP -led NDA are ruling on Mohan George. Bipol was required after Anwar’s resignation as an MLA from Neelambur. The counting of votes is on 23 June.
With PTI input
(Tagstotransite) Bapols (T) Assembly Constituency Bapols (T) Assembly Constituency (T) Kaddi and Vishwadar Gujarat (T) in Nilambur
