Voting for 3 Lok Sabha and two Assembly By-polls in two states begins

By-polls to three Lok Sabha and two Assembly seats in Rajasthan and West Bengal are being held today amidst tight security. In Rajasthan, the Lok Sabha seats of Ajmer and Alwar, and the Assembly constituency of Mandalgarh are going to polls. 

The by-elections were necessitated due to the deaths of Ajmer MP Sanwar Lal Jat, Alwar MP Chand Nath and Mandalgarh MLA Kirti Kumari (all from the BJP).About 39 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise at around 4,000 polling booths. More than 18 lakh 18 thousand voters will decide the fate of 11 candidates in Alwar Lok Sabha seat. While a total of 18 lakh 40 thousand 686 voters are in Ajmer. 23 candidates are trying their fate for this seat. 

More than 2 lakh 31 thousand voters will decide the



fate of 8 candidates for the Mandalgarh assembly seat. Rajasthan police have made four-layer security arrangements. ADG law and order NRK Reddy told that Sensitive and critical polling booths are highly guarded. The election commission for the first time introduced EVMs with candidates’ photographs. Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trial VVPAT machines are used to verify the voting. Blind voters are able to cast their votes with Braille technology made on EVM machine.

In West Bengal, by-polls are being held to Uluberia Lok Sabha Constituency in Howrah district and Noapara Assembly Seat in North 24 Parganas. The seats fell vacant following the deaths of TMC MP Sultan Ahmed and Congress MLA Madhusudan Ghosh. The counting of votes will be taken up on Thursday