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By-elections test new political leaders across four regions
Voters are being asked to choose representatives in six by-elections across four regions.
Five contests are for Assembly seats, and one is for a seat in India’s Parliament.
Voting is scheduled to start at 7 am on Tuesday, and the votes are to be counted on October 9.
In West Bengal, the BJP government faces its first election test since taking power.
In Tamil Nadu, the elections could show how much support Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s party has.
Puducherry’s election is a test for its four-month-old government.
In Assam, the BJP, Congress and AIUDF are competing for the Nagaon seat.
The seats became vacant for different reasons, including politicians retaining another seat, resignations and a change of party.
By-elections are scheduled for five Assembly seats in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and one Lok Sabha seat in Assam.
Voting is scheduled to begin at 7 am on Tuesday; counting is set for October 9.
West Bengal’s Nandigram and Rejinagar contests follow the BJP’s victory in the state Assembly election and feature competing party factions and candidates.
Tamil Nadu’s Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls are a test for Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s TVK and include candidates who crossed over from the AIADMK.
In Puducherry’s Thattanchavady and Assam’s Nagaon, the contests are being framed as tests of the ruling alliance and parties’ efforts to retain or expand support.
- Who
- Voters and candidates from multiple parties, including the BJP, TMC, TVK, Congress, AIADMK and AIUDF.
- What
- By-elections for five Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha constituency.
- Where
- West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Assam.
- When
- Voting is scheduled for Tuesday, beginning at 7 am; counting is set for October 9.
- Why
- The seats became vacant for different reasons, including legislators retaining another seat, resignations and an MP leaving his party.
Party aims and claims
Competing party aims and claims
West Bengal contests
Party aims and claims
The BJP government faces its first electoral test after winning the Assembly election; the BJP is contesting Nandigram and Rejinagar.
Competing party aims and claims
Opposition parties are contesting the seats amid reported candidate withdrawals, arrests and allegations of police pressure on workers. In Nandigram, Mamata Banerjee backed a Congress candidate after her faction’s nominee withdrew.
Tamil Nadu contests
Party aims and claims
TVK leaders see the Madurantakam and Dharapuram contests as important tests of Vijay’s party and its claim that the state’s political centre has shifted toward it.
Competing party aims and claims
The DMK, AIADMK and CPI are also contesting; a defeat for TVK in either seat could complicate that political narrative, according to the article.
Nagaon contest
Party aims and claims
The BJP is seeking to expand its support in the Muslim-majority constituency and establish its presence across sections of voters.
Competing party aims and claims
The Congress is seeking to retain the seat and its minority support base, while the AIUDF is fighting to maintain its influence.
Key facts
- Seats
- Five Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat
- Regions
- West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Assam
- Voting time
- Scheduled to begin at 7 am on Tuesday
- Counting
- Scheduled for October 9
- West Bengal Assembly seats
- Nandigram and Rejinagar
- Tamil Nadu Assembly seats
- Madurantakam and Dharapuram
- Puducherry Assembly seat
- Thattanchavady
- Assam Lok Sabha seat
- Nagaon
Sources
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