PolityGS-IGS-II· 1 min read
Bypolls Held in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Assam
Why in news?
Bypolls were conducted for five Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha constituency amidst allegations of voter intimidation and irregularities.
Key points
- Voting took place in West Bengal (Rejinagar), Tamil Nadu (Madurantakam, Dharapuram), Puducherry, and Assam (Nagaon Lok Sabha).
- Allegations of voters being denied the right to vote and polling agents being prevented from entering booths were reported.
- A candidate in Tamil Nadu claimed spending ₹31 crore for the election, prompting an ECI inquiry.
- High voter turnout was recorded in Tamil Nadu's constituencies.
- EVM glitches were reported in some polling stations in Madurantakam.
Background & context
Bypolls are elections held to fill vacancies in legislative bodies (Parliament or State Assemblies) that arise due to death, resignation, or disqualification of a member. They are crucial for reflecting the current political sentiment of a constituency and can impact the overall strength of parties.
★ Prelims fact capsule
Tamil Nadu's Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies recorded turnouts of 70.31% and 68.08% respectively by 3 p.m.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper I: Society (Electoral participation), GS Paper II: Polity (Electoral process, Election Commission of India)