Bypoll Battle: NDA And INDIA Blocs Gear Up For Contest In 13 Seats Across 7 States

The BJP-led NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc are gearing up for another electoral battle as bypolls for 13 Assembly seats across seven states are scheduled for July 10. This comes nearly a month after the Lok Sabha elections, where the Opposition made a significant comeback.

The by-elections will take place in Rupauli (Bihar), Raiganj, Ranaghat Dakshin, Bagdah, and Maniktala (West Bengal), Vikravandi (Tamil Nadu), Amarwara (Madhya Pradesh), Badrinath and Manglaur (Uttarakhand), Jalandhar West (Punjab), and Dehra, Hamirpur, and Nalagarh (Himachal Pradesh). These vacancies arose due to either deaths or resignations of incumbent members.

High-Stakes Contests

In West Bengal, four Assembly seats will witness a face-off between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. Notably, BJP MLAs from Raiganj, Ranaghat Dakshin, and Bagdah had switched to TMC before the Lok Sabha polls but were defeated.

Himachal Pradesh is also set for intense contests in Dehra, Hamirpur, and Nalagarh. The Dehra bypoll is particularly significant as Kamlesh Thakur, wife of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, is contesting. These seats became vacant after Independent MLAs resigned following their support for BJP's Harsh Mahajan in the Rajya Sabha election.

In Uttarakhand, Badrinath and Manglaur will go to polls on July 10. Badrinath's bypoll was triggered by Congress MLA Rajendra Bhandari's resignation and subsequent switch to BJP. Manglaur's seat fell vacant after BSP MLA Sarwat Karim Ansari passed away last October.

Key Contests Across States

Tamil Nadu's Vikravandi seat will see a triangular contest involving DMK, PMK led by Anbumani Ramadoss (an NDA ally), and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK). This makes it one of the most watched contests in the state.

Bihar's Rupauli seat will witness a direct contest between JD(U)'s Kaladhar Mandal and five-time MLA Bima Bharti who joined RJD ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. This bypoll was necessitated by Bharti’s resignation from JD(U).

In Madhya Pradesh, Amarwara (ST) Assembly seat fell vacant after Congress leader Kamlesh Shah joined BJP before the Lok Sabha elections. This seat is crucial for Congress as it falls under Chhindwara Lok Sabha segment, a stronghold of veteran leader Kamal Nath.

Pivotal Punjab Contest

The Jalandhar West seat in Punjab will see a three-way contest among AAP, Congress, and BJP. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is leading AAP’s campaign personally. The bypoll was triggered by AAP MLA Sheetal Angural’s resignation after joining BJP.

The counting of votes for these by-elections will take place on July 13. Political analysts are keenly watching these contests as they could indicate shifting political dynamics ahead of future elections.