Bypolls 2024: Public campaigning for candidates in several states to end today; Check details here

The campaign for the bypolls in five Assembly seats in Assam will end on Monday. Check more details here.

Bypolls 2024: The campaign for the bypolls in several states of India including Kerala, Karnataka and Asaam will end on Monday. The By-elections in five Assembly constituencies of Assam—Dholai, Samaguri, Behali, Bongaigaon, and Sidli have been necessitated due to the elections of five legislators to Lok Sabha in the general elections this year. Except in Samaguri, where Congress heavyweight Rakibul Hussain has been winning since 2001, the rest of the four seats are with the BJP-led alliance. According to pollsters, due to the dominance of Muslim voters in the Samaguri seat, Congress has an edge over the BJP in this seat.

The BJP fielded candidates for three seats—Dholai, Samaguri and Behali. Diplu Ranjan Sarma was given ticket in Samaguri while Diganta Ghatowar and Nihar Ranjan Das are contesting for BJP in Behali and Dholai Assembly segments respectively.

BJP’s two allies—Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) are contesting polls in Bongaigaon and Sidli Assembly constituencies. Meanwhile, Samaguri Assembly constituency has witnessed sporadic pre-poll violence with supporters of BJP and Congress clashing with each other on several occasions. Late on Saturday night when suspected armed criminals opened fire on a BJP march that included Barhampur MLA Jitu Goswami, injuring at least three people.

Attackers targeted BJP politicians taking part in the march, including MLA Goswami, in the Moriputhi neighbourhood of Samaguri. According to witnesses, the attackers first pelted stones at the participants before striking them with sticks. Three people were then hurt when unidentified persons opened fire on the group.

Public campaigning to end in Kerala’s Wayanad

The Wayanad Lok Sabha seat has been a stronghold of the Congress-led UDF, and the Chelakkara segment has long been a bastion of the CPI (M)-led LDF. However, political parties expect that changing political circumstances and developments may bring surprising election results in both constituencies this time.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the UDF candidate, who has been leading the last leg of the campaigning by camping in the constituency, is present in Wayanad on the last day of public campaigning.

(With inputs from agencies)