Counting of votes for bypolls held in eight constituencies across six states and Jammu & Kashmir began today at 8 am. Simultaneously, the Election Commission of India (ECI) also began counting of votes in Bihar’s 243 Assembly constituencies, starting with postal ballots.
The state saw a record 67.13 per cent of voters cast their votes in two phases of polling held on November 6 and 11. This is the highest voter turnout in the state since 1951.
Eight other assembly constituencies, in Jammu and Kashmir (Budgam, Nagrota), Rajasthan (Anta), Jharkhand (Ghatsila), Telangana (Jubilee Hills), Punjab (Tarn Taran), Mizoram (Dampa), and Odisha (Nuapada), went to the polls for by-elections on November 11.
In Bihar, counting is being conducted by 243 Returning Officers (ROs) in the presence of 243 Counting Observers, as well as candidates or their agents. The ECI claims this to be the first time in recent times that no discrepancies or malpractices were found at any polling station, and no repolls recommended.
Ghatshila bypoll: The counting of votes for the Ghatshila bypoll in Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum district began on Friday morning at the Jamshedpur Cooperative College amid tight security arrangements, an official said.
A 74.63 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the bypoll on November 11.
East Singhbhum District Election Officer (DEO)-cum-Deputy Commissioner (DC) Karn Satyarthi said the counting, which started with postal ballots, will include a total of 20 rounds of counting on 19 tables.
Thirteen candidates are in the fray, but the main contest is likely to be between Somesh Chandra Soren of the JMM and the BJP’s Babulal Soren, son of former chief minister Champai Soren.
Somesh is the son of JMM MLA Ramdas Soren, whose death on August 15 necessitated the bypoll.
Jubilee Hills bypoll: Amid tight security, counting of votes in the by-election for Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency began on Friday, which may prove to be a litmus test for the Congress government and also BRS.
The counting process would be taken up in 10 rounds.
Officials said 48.49 per cent of votes were cast on November 11 when the polling was held. The total number of eligible voters was 4.01 lakh, while 1.94 lakh voters exercised their franchise.
The bypoll was necessitated by the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June this year.
The BJP fielded L Deepak Reddy, while Gopinath’s widow Sunita is the BRS candidate. The ruling Congress candidate is Naveen Yadav. He also enjoys the support of Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM.
Also Read: Bihar Election Result 2025 Live Updates: Who will win Bihar?
Tarn Taran bypoll: The by-election was necessitated by the death of the sitting AAP MLA, Dr. Kashmir Singh Sohal. The results will be a key indicator of the political mood in the region ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
In the fray are Harmeet Singh Sandhu of AAP, Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa from SAD (Akali), Mandeep Singh (Independent), Harjit Singh Sandhu (BJP) and Karanbir Singh Burj (Congress).
Dampa bypoll: The counting of votes polled in the by-election to the Dampa assembly seat in Mizoram's Mamit district began on Friday morning, amid tight security arrangements, an official said.
The counting began at 8 am at the Mamit deputy commissioner complex.
District Election Officer Lalnunfela Chawngthu said postal ballots were being counted first, and then the votes cast in EVMs will be taken up.
There will be five rounds of counting.
"There is only one counting hall and nine counting tables, including one for postal ballots, and each counting table will be monitored by a supervisor and two assistants," he said.
The bypoll was necessitated following the death of incumbent MNF legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo in July.
Polling for the Dampa assembly seat was held peacefully on Tuesday with 83.07 per cent of the 20,888 eligible voters exercising their franchise in the bypoll.
Five candidates of the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), the main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), Congress, BJP and the People's Conference (PC) party are in the fray.
Nuapada bypoll: The counting of votes for the Nuapada assembly bypoll in Odisha began at 8 am on Friday under a three-tier security arrangement, an official said.
District Election Officer (DEO)-cum-Nuapada Collector Madhusudan Dash said the counting of postal ballots was underway.
The counting of votes in EVMs will start from 8.30 am at 14 tables and there will be 26 rounds of vote counting, he said.
The bypoll was necessitated by the demise of BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8.
The Nuapada by-election has achieved an outstanding voter turnout of 83.45 per cent, which was the highest among the eight bypolls held in India on November 11.
As many as 14 candidates are in the fray.
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