New Delhi [India], April 9 (HBTV): Nagaland has emerged as the early frontrunner in voter participation in the ongoing Assembly bypolls, recording the highest turnout among all constituencies, while Tripura and Karnataka follow behind.
According to early polling trends released by the Election Commission on Thursday morning, as of 9:00 am, Koridang (28) in Nagaland recorded a turnout of 19.80 per cent, the highest among all constituencies reported so far.
Tripura's Dharmanagar (56) registered a turnout of 15.63 per cent, placing it second in the early trends.
In Karnataka, turnout remained comparatively moderate, with Bagalkot (24) reporting 11.87 per cent, while Davangere South (107) recorded 9.01 per cent.
Voting for by-elections in Davangere South and Bagalkot constituencies in Karnataka, Koridang constituency in Nagaland, and Dharmanagar constituency in Tripura began at 7 am on Thursday.
In Karnataka, the Congress has fielded Umesh Meti from the Bagalkot constituency and Samarth Mallikarjun as its candidate for the Davangere South seat. Umesh Meti is the son of late Congress leader Meti Hullappa Yamanappa (HY Meti), who represented the Bagalkot seat, while Samarth Mallikarjun is the son of Karnataka Minister SS Mallikarjun. The BJP has fielded Veerabhadrayya Charantimath and Srinivas T. Dasakariyappa from Bagalkot and Davangere South Assembly constituencies, respectively.
The Bagalkot seat fell vacant following the death of HY Meti, while the Davangere South seat became vacant after the death of Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
In Nagaland, Congress candidate T Chalukumba Ao is contesting against Daochier I Imchen, son of veteran BJP leader Imkong L Imchen, for the Koridang seat by-election. T Chalukumba Ao had contested the 2023 Nagaland Assembly elections on a Janata Dal (United) ticket. BJP State Council member Imchainba Jamir withdrew his candidature in favour of Imchen.
The Koridang (ST) seat became vacant following the death of Imkong L Imchen.
In Tripura, the BJP has fielded Jahar Chakraborti for the Dharmanagar seat against Congress candidate Chayan Bhattacharjee. Amitabha Datta of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is also in the fray.
The seat fell vacant after the demise of Tripura Speaker and four-time MLA Biswa Bandhu Sen.
In Goa, polling for the Ponda Assembly constituency was scheduled for Thursday; however, the Bombay High Court cancelled the by-election.
The results for the by-elections will be announced on May 4.
The Election Commission of India had earlier announced the schedule for by-elections across eight Assembly constituencies in six states. Polling for bypolls in Umreth (Gujarat), Rahuri, and Baramati (Maharashtra) will take place on April 23, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4. (ANI)