New Delhi: Voting for by-elections to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat and 10 assembly constituencies in eight states, including Delhi’s Rajouri Garden seat, have underway on Sunday.
The assembly constituencies where elections are being held are: Rajouri Garden (Delhi), Litipara (Jharkhand), Nanjangud and Gundlupet (Karnataka), Dholpur (Rajasthan), Kanthi Dakshin (West Bengal), Ater and Bandhavgarh (Madhya Pradesh), Bhoranj (Himachal Pradesh) and Dhemaii (Assam).
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah is contesting the Srinagar seat that fell vacant after the resignation of Peoples Democratic Party leader Tariq Hameed Karra during last year’s unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
By-election to West Delhi’s Rajouri Garden assembly seat is seen as the trailer to the upcoming municipal elections this month. The seat fell vacant after the Aam Aadmi Party’s Jarnail Singh quit to contest the Punjab Assembly polls held earlier this year.
Preceded by controversies related to electronic voting machines, Ater and Bandhavgarh (ST) assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh go to polls on Sunday.
While counting for the Lok Sabha by-election will be held on April 15, votes for the assembly by-polls will be counted on April 13.
Live updates12.40pm: At least 3 people have died due to clashes between protestors and security personnel during voting for by-election to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, said official sources and hospital administration.
12.38pm: Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Arun Yadav alleged that about 35 polling officers had been taken to unknown locations since Saturday night. “We will complain to the Election Commission about booth capturing,” he said.
12.35pm: Jharkhand’s Littipara constituency has recorded 38% polling till 11am.
The BJP has lodged a complaint against Hiranpur block development officer alleging that he supporteda particular party.
The Election Commission has asked Pakur district election officer for a probe. At Nawadih, voting started late due to technical fault in EVM machine.
12.30pm: Another injured in the Srinagar clashes died, taking the toll to 2.
12.28pm: Former chief minister Omar Abdullah said he had never saw in his 20 years of political career such a bad situation for elections and campaigning, and blamed the state government and Centre for such a situation.
12.25pm: Srinagar Lok Sabha seat candidate Farooq Abdullah said elections should have been peaceful had the BJP-PDP government ensured peaceful atmosphere for people to come and vote.
12.20pm: Srinagar Lok Sabha candidate Farooq Abdullah and son and former chief minister Omar Abdullah cast their votes.
11.50am: Rajouri Garden assembly constituency in West Delhi has recorded at least 11% votes till 11am. Raju Singh, a resident of the area, said :“Since it is a Sunday, people will come out to vote in late afternoon. Also, the focus is now on corporation elections.”
11.25am: After Dalwan Pakerpora and Nasrullahpora,clashes have erupted between protesters and security forces in Chadoora. Four have been injured, reports ANI.
11.20am: Polling peaceful in West Bengal’s Kanthi Dakshin assembly seat with 22% votes till 10am.
11.10am: The car of Congress candidate has allegedly been vandalised and two people beaten up and booth captured. Congress blames BJP supporters for the incident.
10.50am: One person was killed and five others were injured in clashes between security forces and protesters as polling for by-election to the Srinagar parliamentary constituency began here.
10.30am: Voting is going on peacefully for Littipara bypoll in Jharkhand. 15% polling has been recorded till 9am. In morning hours, number of women voters was higher than men.
10 .20am: Clash between protesters and Security personnel near polling station in Dalwan Pakerpora area of Budgam. Two people have been injured, news agency ANI has reported.
10.16am: Nanjangud (Karnataka) bypoll candidate from Congress, Kalale Krishnamurthy, wears a Congress symbol to the polling station.
10.15am: Four EVMs replaced due to fault in Bandhavgarh assembly bypolls in Madhya Pradesh.
10am: Ater assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh witnessed violence during polling on Sunday morning when a mob of villagers allegedly pelted stones at Congress candidate Hemant Katare’s car.
9.45am: Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken says the Rajouri Garden bypoll will be a referendum on two years of Arvind Kejriwal government.
9.40am: Rajouri Garden bypoll: Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken casts his vote, says the fight is between his party and the BJP both in the by-election and the municipal corporation election.
9.20am: Himachal Pradesh: Polling begins at booth number 51 in Bhoranj assembly bypoll (Hamirpur district) after fault in EVM rectified.
9.10am: Ater (Bhind) bypoll: Six police officials have been removed by the Election Commission after Congress candidate Hemant Katare alleged they were threatening people.
8.43am: Security has been tightened on voting day for Srinagar Lok Sabha bypolls.
8.32am: Polling has been delayed at booth number 51 in Bhoranj assembly (Hamirpur district) due to fault in EVM.
8.35am: Rajouri Garden bypoll: A polling official says only two votes casted at a booth in J block as machines not working.
8.20am: People have come out to vote in Kanthi Dakshin seat in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district.
7.25am: Voting underway for Bandhavgarh assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh.
7.15am: Authorities have suspended all internet services in the three districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Gandarbal where voting is scheduled on Sunday for the parliamentary by-elections.
