Bye-elections 2017: Polling to be held today in Kerala’s Malappuram and Sikkim’s Upper Burtuk constituencies

Sikkim by-poll results will be declared on April 15, while Malappuram on April 17.

New Delhi, April 12: Polling for by-elections 2017 will be held today in Kerala’s Malappuram and Sikkim’s Upper Burtuk constituencies. Initially, the by-polls for Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag constituency and Tamil Nadu’s RK Nagar was also slated for April today, but while Anantnag by-poll was deferred till May 25, citing violence and unrest in the valley, the RK Nagar by-polls had to be postponed citing large-scale corruption and alleged influencing of voters using cash. However, for Kerala and Sikkim it is an important day, as voters in Malappuram and Upper Burtuk of Kerala and Sikkim respectively are expected in huge number to cast their votes.

Upper Burtuk, Sikkim

According to All India Radio, Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be used for the first time in the state of Sikkim during the poll by which voters can get conformation of their votes. It further stated that fates of seven Assembly candidates from various political parties will be captured in the Electronic Voting Machines tomorrow. More than thirteen thousand voters are expected to exercise their right to vote in Sikkim. The results will declared on April 15.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Suresh Khanal Sharma for the Upper Burtuk seat, while the Congress has fielded Sumitra Rai for the bye-polls.

16 polling stations have been set up in the constituency and out of that eight have been declared as critical. As per reports, more than hundred fifty police personnel from Sikkim Armed Force has been deployed to check any untoward incident during the bye-elections. The AIR report also claimed that Sikkim Armed Force has been deployed to ensure free, fair and peaceful election.

Malappuram, Kerala

Bye-elections in Kerala’s Malappuram constituency became necessary due to the death of former Union Minister and incumbent MP from Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), E. Ahamed. Many experts are of the opinion that tomorrow’s bye-election will in a way be a litmus test for the three major political parties and the support they have gained after almost one year of the Assembly elections that were held in May 2016.

The prime contenders in the Malappuram constituency are PK Kunhalikutty from United Democratic Front (UDF) and MB Faisal from Left Democratic Front (LDF). Notably, Kunhalikutty is presently the legislator from Vengara constituency and if he wins the Malappuram constituency, it will necessitate another bye-poll for Vengara.

In total there are nine candidates contending for the Malappuram constituency. As per reports, the Muslim voters are the decisive force in this constituency. Although experts claimed that the constituency is like an fortress for the IUML, the CPI (M) is of the opinion that this bye-election and result will be the assessment of the functioning of the state government.

The district of Malappuram is the fourth largest urban centre in Kerala. Kondotty, Mankada, Vallikkunnu, Manjeri, Malappuram, Perinthalmanna and Vengara are the Assembly constituencies under it. The results of the Malappuram bye-elections will be declared on April 17.