The newly-formed opposition bloc Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) is facing its big test today (Friday) as the counting of votes on seven assembly seats in six states began at 8 a.m. (IST).
The results of the bypolls are crucial for the new opposition bloc as they aim to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming state assembly polls and the 2024 General elections.
The voting for the state assembly seats took place on September 5 in Uttarakhand (Bageshwar), Uttar Pradesh (Ghosi), Kerala (Puthuppally), West Bengal (Dhupguri), Jharkhand (Dumri), in Tripura (Boxanagar and Dhanpur).
Out of the seven assembly seats, BJP held Dhanpur, Bageshwar and Dhupguri while Ghosi was held by Samajwadi Party, Dumri by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Boxanagar by Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Puthupally by Congress.
As per initial reports, the Samajwadi Party candidate Sudhakar Singh is leading against the BJP candidate Dara Singh Chauhan on the Ghosi assembly seat while Congress’ Chandy Oommen is ahead of the Communist Party of India's (Marxist) candidate Jack C Thomas on the Puthuppally seat.
In Uttarakhand, Congress candidate Basant Kumar is ahead of BJP’s Parvati Das whereas BJP’s Tafajjal Hossain is leading over Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate Mizan Hossain in Tripura's Boxanagar constituency.
In Uttarakhand, Congress candidate Basant Kumar is ahead of BJP’s Parvati Das whereas BJP’s Tafajjal Hossain is leading over Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate Mizan Hossain in Tripura's Boxanagar constituency.
On West Bengal’s Dhupguri assembly seat, BJP’s Tapasi Roy is leading over Trinamool Congress candidate Nirmal Chandra Roy.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has boycotted the counting process in Tripura alleging large-scale rigging in the bypolls.