New Delhi: Polling for by-elections in four assembly constituencies - three in West Bengal and one in Uttarakhand began this morning amid tight security. The constituencies going to by-polls today are Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand and Kaliaganj (SC), Karimpur and Kharagpur Sadar in West Bengal.
"After taking into consideration inputs from the Chief Electoral Officers of Uttarakhand and West Bengal and various factors like local festivals, electoral rolls, weather conditions etc, the Commission has decided to hold by-elections," the Election Commission had said in a press note on October 25. The Gazette Notification for these polls was issued on October 30 and the last date for filing nominations was November 6.
In West Bengal, these are the first polls since after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in which BJP had won 18 out of the 42 seats. Today's electoral battle is being seen as a triangular contest between Trinamool Congress, BJP and Left-Congress parties. With polling being held today, the counting of votes will take place on November 28.
