Counting of votes begins for bye-polls

Counting of votes has begun for 4 Lok Sabha and eight Assembly Constituencies, spread across six States and one Union Territory where by-election were held on Saturday.The Lok Sabha seats are Lakhimpur in Assam, Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh and Coochbehar and Tamluk Parliamentary seats in West Bengal.

The Assembly seats are in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

In Assam, the counting of votes for Lakhimpur Lok Sabha and Baithalangso assembly by polls is being held today amid tight security. Over 66 percent polling was reported at Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat while over 74 percent voters exercised their voting rights at Baithalangso assembly seat.Five candidates are in the fray for the Lakhimpur seat while political fate of three candidates will be decided at Baithalangso assembly seat. Both the seats are likely to witness straight contest between the NDA and the Congress. The outcome of the bypoll will be the first test for the Sarbanand Sonowal led BJP government as well as newly appointed state Congress President Ripun Bora.

In Tamil Nadu, the results will be announced today for Thanjavur, Aravakurichi and Tiruparakundram Assembly bye-elections held on 19th of this month. The results are expected to be known in the morning itself as voting was held through Electronic Voting Machines.

In Puducherry, counting of votes of the Nellithoppe assembly by-election has begun. Election Department has made all



arrangements for counting. Police has put in place a three-tier security for Bharathidasan Women's College in the city where counting is underway. As by-poll was held in a single constituency the result is expected by 10 am.

The by-election saw fierce electoral battle between congress candidate and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and AIADMK's Om Sakthi Sekar. Narayanasamy who is not a member of the territorial assembly emerged as compromise candidate for Chief Minister's post after May 16 assembly elections.

This election is crucial for him as his continuance in the post depend on the outcome of the by-poll. For Om Sakthi Sekar, two time MLA from the constituency, the electoral battle was an opportunity to prove himself after the defeat in the last Assembly elections.

In Tripura, the counting of votes for by-poll in Barjala and Khowai assembly constituencies began at 8 am today amidst tight security.In Barjala, the counting is being held at Umakant Academy complex whereas in Khowai the counting is being held at SDM Office campus hall. Counting will be done in 4 rounds.

First postal ballots and then EVM votes will be counted under the supervision of central election observers. Both the centres will be having CCTV for surveillance during counting of votes.

In these constituencies polling was held on 19 November. Mainly four parties i.e. CPI (M), TMC, Congress and BJP are in the fray. There are around 39,000 voters in each constituency.