New Delhi, November 12: Byelections to eight assembly constituencies across seven Indian states concluded peacefully on Tuesday, with Rajasthan’s Anta recording the highest voter turnout of over 80%, according to election officials.
Voting took place in Budgam and Nagrota (Jammu and Kashmir), Anta (Rajasthan), Ghatshila (Jharkhand), Jubilee Hills (Telangana), Tarn Taran (Punjab), Dampa (Mizoram), and Nuapada (Odisha).
In Jammu and Kashmir, Budgam registered 48% turnout, with the contest seen as a key test for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Abdullah, who won from both Budgam and Ganderbal in the 2024 assembly elections, vacated Budgam, prompting the bypoll. The National Conference’s (NC) Aga Syed Mehmood faces the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Aga Muntazir in the NC stronghold.
Nagrota recorded 74.63% polling. The seat, left vacant after BJP leader Devender Singh Rana’s death, saw his daughter Devyani Rana contesting on a BJP ticket against the NC’s Shamim Begum and Panthers Party president Harsh Dev Singh.
Punjab’s Tarn Taran constituency witnessed around 61% voter turnout amid a multi-cornered contest between candidates from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and the BJP, as well as an Independent backed by radical Sikh groups.
In Mizoram’s Dampa, 75.92% voters cast their ballots. The bypoll, called after the death of Mizo National Front (MNF) legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo, could decide whether the MNF retains eligibility for the Leader of the Opposition post in the state assembly.
Anta in Rajasthan recorded the highest turnout, at over 80%. The bypoll, necessitated by the disqualification of BJP MLA Kanwar Lal Meena, pits the Congress’s Pramod Jain against the BJP’s Morpal Suman and Independent Naresh Meena, a Congress rebel. A BJP victory is expected to reinforce Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s leadership in the state.
In Telangana’s Jubilee Hills, the bypoll — triggered by the death of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Maganti Gopinath — is seen as the first electoral test for the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government. The BRS has fielded Maganti Sunitha, while Congress’s Naveen Yadav enjoys support from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
Odisha’s Nuapada seat reported 75.37% polling, with election officials using helicopters to reach remote areas. The contest features the BJP’s Jay Dholakia, son of deceased Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Rajendra Dholakia, facing the BJD’s Snehangini Chhuria and Congress’s Ghasiram Majhi.
Counting of votes for all eight constituencies will be held later this week.
