Bypolls Witness Brisk Voting Amid Violence in Uttarakhand, West Bengal

13 assembly constituencies across seven states saw moderate to brisk voter turnout as bypolls began on Wednesday.

The elections, which began at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, mark the first electoral exercise since the recent Lok Sabha polls.

Notable candidates include Kamlesh Thakur, wife of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, among other veterans and newcomers. These bypolls aim to fill vacancies caused by deaths or resignations of incumbent members.

While most states reported peaceful polling, Uttarakhand and West Bengal experienced isolated incidents of violence. In Uttarakhand’s Manglaur constituency, a clash between political party workers at a polling booth left four supporters injured. The Congress candidate accused the BJP of disrupting the democratic process, though police denied reports of gunfire.

West Bengal saw disturbances in Bagdah and Ranaghat Dakshin, with the BJP alleging that TMC workers assaulted their booth agents and obstructed candidates. The TMC refuted these claims, calling them unfounded. In response, the BJP has filed a complaint with the Election Commission.