Bypolls Scheduled for November 13 in Assam and West Bengal Amid Political Tensions

The Election Commission announced that bypolls for five Assembly seats in Assam will take place on November 13, with vote counting set for November 23. The ruling BJP will contest three of the five seats, leaving two for its alliance partners, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL). These seats became vacant after five legislators, including a cabinet minister, were elected to the Lok Sabha earlier this year.

In Assam, the vacant Dholai seat was formerly held by BJP's Parimal Suklabaidya, who won the Silchar Lok Sabha seat, while Ranjit Dutta vacated the Behali seat after his Lok Sabha victory. The AGP secured its first parliamentary seat with Phani Bhusan Choudhury elected from Barpeta, while Congress leader Rakibul Hussain vacated the Samaguri seat after defeating AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal in Dhubri.

Meanwhile, in West Bengal, bypolls will also be held on November 13 for six constituencies, with results announced on November 23. These seats—Sitai, Madarihat, Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, and Taldangra—fell vacant as the sitting MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha. The Trinamool Congress won five of these seats in the 2021 Assembly elections, while the BJP held Madarihat. The bypolls are significant for both parties amid ongoing tensions in West Bengal, particularly following a recent high-profile incident of violence.

The electoral landscape in both states remains charged as parties prepare for these crucial contests, which could influence their standing in the respective Assemblies.