NEW DELHI: Results for bypolls to 46 assembly constituencies across 13 states and two Lok Sabha segments were announced on Saturday. The parliamentary seats include Nanded in Maharashtra and Wayanad in Kerala, where Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contested her first election and secured a comfortable victory.
The Assembly bypolls were held in nine seats in Uttar Pradesh, seven in Rajasthan, six in West Bengal, five in Assam, and four each in Punjab and Bihar. Additionally, Karnataka has three seats, whilst Madhya Pradesh and Kerala have two each. Single seats are being contested in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Meghalaya.
Nine seats: Multi-cornered contest in UP
BJP swept the bypolls by clinching 6 out of 9 seats that were up for grabs.
Nine constituencies in Uttar Pradesh held bypolls on November 20, including Meerapur, Kundarki, Sisamau, Katehari, Phulpur, Majhawan, Ghaziabad, Karhal and Khair.
In the 2022 Assembly elections, the BJP secured victories in Phulpur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan and Khair, whilst the SP won Sisamau, Katehari, Karhal and Kundarki. The RLD, previously aligned with SP, won Meerapur but has since joined the BJP-led NDA.
The Congress opted out but backed the SP, whilst the BSP contested independently across all constituencies. AIMIM fielded candidates in Ghaziabad, Kundarki and Meerapur, whilst the Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), under Chandrashekhar Azad’s leadership, contested all seats except Sisamau.
Winners of UP Assembly bypolls
| Candidate Name | Constituency | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Mithlesh Pal | Meerapur | Rashtriya Lok Dal |
| Ramveer Singh | Kundarki | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Sanjeev Sharma | Ghaziabad | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Surender Diler | Khair | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Tej Pratap Singh | Karhal | Samajwadi Party |
| Naseem Solanki | Sishamau | Samajwadi Party |
| Deepak Patel | Phulpur | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Dharmraj Nishad | Katehari | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Shuchismita Maurya | Majhawan | Bharatiya Janata Party |
Rajasthan bypolls: 7 seats and 3-tier security
A robust three-level security system has been established for tallying the votes from the bypolls held across seven assembly constituencies in Rajasthan, according to an official statement on November 17. The bypolls for the constituencies of Jhunjhunu, Ramgarh, Dausa, Deoli-Uniara, Khinvsar, Salumbar and Chaurasi took place on November 13, with results scheduled for announcement on Saturday.
The EVM vote counting proceeded in varying rounds for different constituencies: Jhunjhunu and Salumbar will require 22 rounds each, Ramgarh will take 21 rounds, Deoli-Uniara and Khinvsar will need 20 rounds each, whilst Dausa and Chaurasi will complete in 18 rounds each.
Winners of Rajasthan Assembly bypolls
| Candidate Name | Constituency | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Rajendra Bhamboo | Jhunjhunu | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Deen Dayal | Dausa | Indian National Congress |
| Sukhavant Singh | Ramgarh | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Rajendra Gurjar | Deoli – Uniara | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Rewant Ram Danga | Khinwsar | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Shanta Amrit Lal Meena | Salumber | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Anil Kumar Katara | Chorasi | Bharat Adivasi Party |
Punjab bypolls: AAP, Congress, BJP gets final verdict on crucial four seats
Vote counting for Punjab’s four assembly seat bypolls also started on Saturday following Wednesday’s voting. The three major parties – AAP, Congress and BJP – are eagerly awaiting the results.
The electoral contest was held for Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal (SC) and Barnala constituencies on Wednesday.
These bypolls serve as a crucial assessment for chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration, which has completed thirty months in power.
A favourable outcome would significantly boost Mann’s position, particularly after AAP’s underwhelming performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where they secured only three out of Punjab’s thirteen parliamentary seats.
The opposition Congress party also faces significant pressure, particularly for Congress MPs Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Sukhjinder Randhawa, whose spouses are contesting from Gidderbaha and Dera Baba Nanak constituencies, respectively.
The BJP, having failed to secure any parliamentary seats from Punjab in the general elections, is also keen to demonstrate its electoral strength through these bypolls.
Winners of Punjab Assembly bypolls
| Candidate Name | Constituency | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Gurdeep Singh Randhawa | Dera Baba Nanak | Aam Aadmi Party |
| Dr. Ishank Kumar | Chabbewal | Aam Aadmi Party |
| Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon | Gidderbaha | Aam Aadmi Party |
| Kuldeep Singh Dhillon Kala Dhillon | Barnala | Indian National Congress |
Karnataka bypolls: Congress vs BJP-JD(S) in 3 high-stakes seats
The vote counting for crucial by-elections in three Karnataka Assembly constituencies, where the ruling Congress faced a strong challenge from the BJP-JD(S) alliance, commenced on Saturday. The bypolls for Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna constituencies took place on November 13, with significant implications for both political camps.
A victory for Congress would validate the leadership of chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar. For the BJP, positive results would help quieten internal critics of state president BY Vijayendra within the party.
The Channapatna contest holds particular significance for JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, whose son Nikhil seeks electoral success after previous unsuccessful attempts. The seat became vacant when Kumaraswamy won his Lok Sabha seat in this year’s parliamentary elections.
Winners of Karnataka Assembly bypolls
| Candidate Name | Constituency | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Pathan Yasirahmedkhan | Shiggaon | Indian National Congress |
| E Annapoorna | Sandur | Indian National Congress |
| C P Yogeeshwara | Channapatna | Indian National Congress |
Raipur City South: BJP and Congress clash in Chhattisgarh’s key seat
Vote counting for Chhattisgarh’s Raipur City South assembly constituency, where polling occurred on November 13, commenced on Saturday. The seat witnessed a direct contest between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress, following the vacancy created when sitting BJP MLA and former state minister Brijmohan Agrawal stepped down after winning the Raipur Lok Sabha seat.
The constituency, situated in Raipur district, recorded a 50.50 per cent voter turnout. According to officials, the counting process will begin with postal ballots, followed by EVM votes, with the procedure set to unfold across 14 tables in 19 rounds.
Although 30 candidates contested the bypoll, the primary competition remains between the BJP and Congress parties.
Winner of Chhattisgarh Assembly bypoll: Sunil Kumar Soni from BJP won the Raipur City South seat.
West Bengal bypolls: 6 seats witness tensions
The vote counting for six Assembly seats in West Bengal, where byelections took place last week, commenced on Saturday amidst heightened interest due to the ongoing RG Kar incident protests. The electoral contest involves the constituencies of Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, Taldangra, Sitai (SC), and Madarihat (ST).
The by-elections witnessed approximately 69.29 per cent voter participation. The electoral proceedings were disrupted by occasional violent incidents, notably a crude bomb attack near the Naihati Assembly constituency in Bhatpara, resulting in the death of a local TMC worker.
Winners of West Bengal bypolls
| Candidate Name | Constituency | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Sangita Roy | Sitai | All India Trinamool Congress |
| Jayprakash Toppo | Madarihat | All India Trinamool Congress |
| Sanat Dey | Naihati | All India Trinamool Congress |
| Sk Rabiul Islam | Haroa | All India Trinamool Congress |
| Sujoy Hazra | Medinipur | All India Trinamool Congress |
| Falguni Singhababu | Taldangra | All India Trinamool Congress |
Kerala bypolls: A battle for political supremacy in 1 parliamentary and 2 assembly seats
Bypolls were held in Kerala for two assembly seats in Kerala. The bypolls in two assembly constituencies of Kerala, Palakkad and Chelakkara, were held on November 13. In Palakkad, the election was triggered by the resignation of Congress MLA Shafi Parambil after his election to the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, the Chelakkara seat became vacant after the election of K Radhakrishnan to the Lok Sabha, necessitating the bypoll.
Elections were also held for Wayanad parliamentary seat as Rahul Gandhi chose to leave it to represent Rae Bareli. Historically, Wayanad has been a Congress stronghold, with the party winning the seat in every election since its creation in 2008. Rahul Gandhi’s victories in 2019 and 2024 were resounding, securing margins of 4.3 lakh and 3.6 lakh votes, respectively. However, the UDF (United Democratic Front) was banking on Priyanka Gandhi’s popularity this time to carry the seat once again.
| Seat | Winner | Constituency | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lok Sabha | Priyanka Gandhi Vadra | Wayanad | Indian National Congress |
| Assembly | Rahul Mamkootathil | Palakkad | Indian National Congress |
| Assembly | U R Pradeep | Chelakkara | Communist Party of India (Marxist) |
North East’s high-stakes assembly by-polls: Contest on 5 seats in Assam, 1 in Meghalaya
Bypolls in Assam were held for five assembly constituencies on November 13 after the previous representatives were elected to the Lok Sabha. The BJP contested in Behali, Samaguri, and Dholai (SC), while its allies AGP and UPPL fielded candidates in Bongaigaon and Sidli (ST). The Congress contested in all five constituencies.
Meghalaya also witnessed polling in its Gambegre constituency.
Winners of bypolls in Assam and Meghalaya
| Constituency | Winner | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Assam | ||
| Dholai | Nihar Ranjan Das | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Sidli | Nirmal Kumar Brahma | United People’s Party, Liberal |
| Bongaigaon | Diptimayee Choudhury | Asom Gana Parishad |
| Behali | Diganta Ghatowal | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Samaguri | Diplu Ranjan Sarmah | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Meghalaya | ||
| Gambegre | Mehtab Chandee Agitok Sangma | National People’s Party |
Bypolls in other states
Bypolls were held in Kedarnath constituency of Uttarakhand on November 20. The seat in Kedarnath district became vacant following the demise of BJP legislator Shaila Rani Rawat in July.
Meanwhile, Bihar held elections on four seats – Tarari, Ramgarh, Imamganj and Belaganj. Single-seat bypoll was held in Gujarat’s Vav, whilst Madhya Pradesh conducted election in Vijaypur and Budhni.
Winners of bypolls in other states
| Candidate Name | Constituency | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Uttarakhand | ||
| Asha Nautiyal | Kedarnath | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Bihar | ||
| Vishal Prashant | Tarari | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Ashok Kumar Singh | Ramgarh | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Deepa Kumari | Imamganj | Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) |
| Manorama Devi | Belaganj | Janata Dal (United) |
| Gujarat | ||
| Thakor Swarupji Sardarji | Vav | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Madhya Pradesh | ||
| Mukesh Malhotra | Vijaypur | Indian National Congress |
| Ramakant Bhargava | Budhni | Bharatiya Janata Party |
Key seats in bypolls
Nanded
Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao from the Congress party won with a vote margin of 1,457 over BJP’s Dr Santukrao Marotrao Hambarde.
Counting for the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll, which witnessed a 67.81 per cent voter turnout on November 20, was done on November 23. Twenty-three candidates were competing for the parliamentary seat to represent the Nanded constituency.
Wayanad
Priyanka Gandhi, sister of previous winner and Congress leader Rahul won the seat over Sathyan Mokeri of Communist Party of India with a margin of over 4 lakh votes. The ballot counting process began at 8 am, starting with postal votes. The Wayanad Lok Sabha seat by-election took place on November 13. Among the 16 contestants, the primary candidates include first-time electoral participant Priyanka, experienced politician Sathyan Mokeri from CPI(M)-led LDF, and BJP-headed NDA’s representative Navya Haridas. The bypolls were held after Rahul Gandhi vacated to represent Rae Bareli in the Lok Sabha.
Ghaziabad
The results for Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad constituency bypolls were announced on Saturday with BJP’s Sanjeev Sharma winning over SP’s Singh Raj Jatav with a margin over 69 thousand votes as per the ECI. Fourteen contenders were competing for the position of Ghaziabad MLA. The bypoll was called following the resignation of Atul Garg.
Phulpur
BJP’s Deepak Patel won the seat over SP’s Mohd Mujtaba Siddiquia with a margin of over 11 thousand votes. A total of 12 candidates were competing for to b elected MLA in the Phulpur constituency of Uttar Pradesh as bypoll results were announced by the ECI. The electoral contest was triggered following Praveen Patel’s decision to step down from the Assembly seat.
Budhni
Ramakant Bhargava (BJP) won with 1,07,478 votes, defeating Rajkumar Patel (INC), who secured 93,577 votes .
23 candidates were contesting in the Budhni assembly bypoll, which was called following Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s resignation from his position as MLA.
Shiggaon
According to the results announced by ECI, Congress’ Pathan Yasirahmedkhan won over BJP’s Bharath Bommai with over a thirteen thousand vote margin.
Eight candidates were contesting in the electoral race for the Shiggaon assembly constituency in Karnataka. The bypoll for this was called following Basavaraj Bommai’s resignation from the post.
Channapatna
As per the results announced, CP Yogeeshwara from Congress won with a vote margin of over 25,000 against Janata Dal (Secular)’s Nikhil Kumaraswamy.
A total of 31 candidates were contesting for the Channapatna constituency seat in Karnataka. The bypoll was called for this Assembly constituency following HD Kumaraswamy’s resignation from the post.
Raipur City South
In this Chhattisgarh constituency, Sunil Kumar Soni from the BJP won over Congress’ Akash Sharma with a margin of 46,167 votes.
A total of 30 contestants were competing for the position of Raipur City South MLA. The electoral contest was triggered following the resignation of Brijmohan Agrawal from the Assembly constituency.