As the seven assembly seats in the six states go to bypolls today, the newly formed all-India opposition bloc, INDIA, faces a test of its credibility and strength. The Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will be face-to-face against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the ruling coalition led by the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).
The bypolls are being held today in the six states of Uttar Pradesh (UP), West Bangal (WB), Tripura, Jharkhand, Kerala and Uttarakhand. The poll results will set the momentum for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha general elections, where the 28 opposition parties are expected to contest as a coalition INDIA. In this backdrop, the seven bypolls have assumed a crucial role in the Indian electoral politics.
Here is a brief insight into the constituencies under question:
Ghosi, Uttar Pradesh
The constituency fell vacant when Dara Singh Chauhan, Samajwadi Party’s MLA and OBC leader, rejoined the CM Yogi Adityanath’s BJP this year. Chauhan had switched from BJP to SP last year.
Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party has placed Sudhakar Singh against Mr. Chauhan in the assembly bypoll. The constituency has received full attention from both the parties, signifying its importance in the upcoming general elections in 2024.
Dhupguri, West Bengal
The Dhupguri constituency fell vacant after the death of its leader from BJP, Bishnu Pada Ray. Unlike the bipolar contest in UP’s Ghosi, the constituency in WB is witnessing a tripartite contest among the Trinamool Congress, BJP and CPI(M). The CPI(M) is supported by the Congress.
The constituency is expected to face a close contest between the BJP’s Tapasi Roy and TMC’s Nirmal Chandra Roy. Mamta Banerjee’s TMC had won the seat in 2016, which it lost to BJP in 2019. CPI(M) is fielding Ishwar Chandra Roy.
Bypolls to Dhanpur and Boxanagar in Tripura
We are seeing a bipolar contest here, with BJP and INDIA going face-to-face with each other. The main opposition party, Tipra Motha, and the Congress have stayed away. Congress is supporting CPI(M).
Unlike Boxanagar, Dhanpur is no longer a bastion of the communists, who will be very hopeful of easily securing the majority votes in minority-dominated Boxanagar constituency. The BJP’s Tafajjal Hussain will compete against the CPI(M)’s Mizan Hussain in Boxanagaa. The BJP’s Bindu Debnath will try to beat the CPI(M)’s Kaushik Debnath in Dhanpur.
Dumri, Jharkhand
After the death of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)’s Jagarnath Mahto, who was leading the Dumri constituency since 2004, JMM has thrown its lots with the INDIA alliance, which will contest the BJP for the seat. We will see INDIA’s Bebi Devi taking on NDA’s Yashoda Devi in Dumri.
Puthuppally, Kerala
In a bipolar contest, the Congress-led UDF opposition will take on the ruling Left. Congress is looking to bank on the legacy of Oomen Chandy by placing his son Chandy Oomen against the ruling Left’s Jaick C Thomas. BJP is placing G Lijinlal.
Bageshwar, Uttarakhand
In a tripartite contest in this constituency, the BJP, Congress and Samajwadi Party will compete against each other. Chandan Ram Dass, BJP’s MLA from the constituency, died and left the seat vacant for his wife, Parvati, to contest on BJP’s ticket against the Congress’s Basant Kumar and SP’s Bhagawati Prasad.
The counting of the votes will be held on September 8. The results can either strengthen the new coalition of 28 parties, INDIA, or it can make the process of coalition harder. On the other hand, BJP will be hoping for the results to be in her favor to gain the momentum for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
