Voting begins under tight security in Meghalaya-Jalandhar: Votes will also be cast for four assembly seats in three states, results on May 13

Along with the Karnataka assembly elections, voting has also started for Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab and four assembly seats in three states. Sohiong in Meghalaya, Swar and Chanbe assembly constituencies in UP, Jharsuguda assembly seat in Odisha.

More than 34 thousand voters in Meghalaya’s Sohiong seat
In Meghalaya, voting began at 7 am in the Sohyeong assembly constituency. Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said that over 34,000 voters are exercising their franchise in the bypoll. Of these, more than 16,000 are men. Voting will be held at 63 booths. Where more than 300 polling officers are doing duty.

The bypoll was necessitated by the death of UDP’s HDR Lyngdoh ahead of the February 27 assembly elections in the rest of the state. The counting of votes will take place on May 13.

19 candidates in Jalandhar
Voting has started in Jalandhar at 8 am, which will continue till 6 pm. The Jalandhar Lok Sabha (reserved) seat in Punjab fell vacant after the death of Congress MP Santokh Singh Chowdhary. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office has taken all necessary measures for free, fair and peaceful voting here. Chief Electoral Officer Sibin Si said that there are a total of 16,26,337 voters in this parliamentary constituency.

There are 19 candidates in the fray, including 15 men and 4 women. Of the candidates, three are from national parties, one from a state party, seven from unrecognized parties and eight are independent candidates.

1972 polling stations have been set up for voting and webcasting of all polling stations is being done. Additional cameras will be installed outside the polling place at a total of 166 polling stations. 542 sensitive polling booths have been identified. Of these, 16 have been made hypersensitive.

Voting on two seats in Uttar Pradesh, eye on Swar seat of Rampur district

By-elections are going to be held on two assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh on May 10. One is Swar seat of Rampur district and the other is Chanbe seat of Mirzapur district. The Swar seat fell vacant after Azam Khan’s son Abdullah Azam quit the assembly. While the Chanbe assembly seat fell vacant after the demise of Apna Dal (S) MLA Rahul Kol.

The eyes of the entire state are on the Swar assembly seat of Rampur, because the prestige of Azam Khan is at stake here. Abdullah Azam’s legislature was revoked after he was convicted in a 15-year-old case and sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment. The great thing is that this time no member of Azam Khan’s family is in the fray. Azam himself is exerting strength for SP’s Hindu candidate Anuradha Chauhan.

Made 253 booths in Jharsuguda seat of Odisha
Voting has also started for the by-election in Jharsuguda assembly constituency in Odisha. On Wednesday, polling has started at 253 booths from 7 am. Which will last till 6 pm. There are a total of 2,21,070 voters here. Of these, 1,10,320 are male, 1,10,687 are female and 63 are transgender.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunj Bihari Dhal said that all arrangements have been made for peaceful voting. Over 1,000 polling officials and adequate number of security personnel, including seven companies of paramilitary forces, have been deployed.

Jharsuguda Superintendent of Police Parmar Smit Parshottamdas said CCTV cameras and micro observers and deployment of central forces have been ensured at 106 sensitive booths besides 30 other booths on the demand of various political parties. Collector cum District Election Officer Aboli Sunil Naravane said that this is the first time that webcasting will be done at all 253 polling stations.

The seat vacated by the murder of the minister
The bypoll was necessitated after the assassination of sitting MLA and then health minister Naba Kishore Das on January 29. Though nine candidates are in the fray, the contest is mainly between the BJD, the BJP and the Congress. The BJD has fielded Das’s daughter Dipali Das, while the BJP has fielded Tankadhar Tripathi. Congress has fielded Tarun Pandey, son of late MLA Biren Pandey. All three are new candidates. The counting of votes will take place on May 13.