5 Assembly bypolls: High voter turnout in Punjab, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Kerala – check details | India News
Bypolls conducted across five Assembly segments in Punjab, West Bengal, Gujarat and Kerala on Thursday recorded high percentages of voter turnouts. Kaliganj in West Bengal – 69.85% polling by 5 pmVisavadar in Gujarat – 54.61% by 5pmKadi in Gujarat – 54.49% by 5 pmNilambur in Kerala – 59.68% by 3 pmLudhiana West in Punjab – 49.07% by 5 pmThe electoral process, which began at 7 am and ended at 6 pm, remained predominantly peaceful, barring a few isolated incidents, according to officials.The bypolls were required in Gujarat, West Bengal and Punjab due to the passing of sitting MLAs, whilst in Kerala and another Gujarat seat, the elections were prompted by legislative resignations.Results are scheduled for June 23.Kaliganj“Polling in Kaliganj has been peaceful. There was no report of any incident from anywhere in and around the constituency. Till 5 pm, the polling was 69.85%,” an election official told PTI.The vacancy arose following TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahamed’s death in February. The TMC selected his daughter, Alifa Ahamed, as their candidate. BJP nominated Ashis Ghosh, whilst Congress fielded Kabil Uddin Shaikh, supported by the CPI(M).To ensure fair elections, fourteen central force companies were stationed throughout the constituency.Several polling stations reported minor disturbances. At booth 56 in Chandghar Adarsha Vidyapith, Congress officials claimed their polling agent was forcibly removed by TMC workers, which the ruling party denied. Electoral officials confirmed no rule violations but requested a district magistrate report regarding the incident.EC officials removed party symbols within 100 metres of polling stations. Mobile phones were prohibited inside voting areas, with designated storage spots supervised by EC-appointed volunteers.NilamburThe constituency’s 263 polling stations saw substantial participation from its 2.32 lakh registered voters.The main contestants among ten candidates include LDF’s M Swaraj, UDF’s Aryadan Shoukath, independent candidate P V Anvar (TMC state convenor), and NDA’s Mohan George.Anvar, whose resignation necessitated the bypoll, discussed constituency developments during his tenure. He noted that wildlife conflicts weren’t addressed by any front – UDF, LDF or NDA – during campaigning.Anvar resigned following allegations against chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and associates, subsequently becoming TMC state convenor.Gujarat’s Visavadar and KadiBJP, Congress and AAP contested both seats.Visavadar became vacant in December 2023 after AAP legislator Bhupendra Bhayani joined BJP. The Kadi seat, reserved for SC candidates, was vacated following BJP MLA Karsan Solanki’s death on February 4. AAP fielded former Gujarat president Gopal Italia, who isn’t registered locally.BJP hasn’t won Visavadar since 2007 despite dominating Gujarat. Bhayani defeated BJP’s Harshad Ribadiya by 7,063 votes in 2022. BJP nominated Rajendra Chavda for Kadi, while Congress selected former MLA Ramesh Chavda. Chavda won in 2012 but lost to BJP’s Karsanbhai Solanki in 2017. AAP’s Jagdish Chavda makes it a three-way contest.Gujarat’s 182-member Assembly comprises 161 BJP, 12 Congress, 4 AAP legislators, one SP member and two independents.Ludhiana WestThe seat became vacant after AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi’s death in January. AAP’s Sanjeev Arora voted with family after visiting religious sites. Congress’s Bharat Bhushan Ashu, BJP’s Jiwan Gupta and SAD’s Parupkar Singh Ghuman cast their votes.EC implemented webcasting at 1,353 of 1,354 polling stations.
