The by-elections for four assembly seats across three states commenced today with significant enthusiasm. According to the Election Commission (EC) data as of 9 AM, Nagaland’s Koridang constituency is leading the charts with a 19.80% turnout. Tripura’s Dharmanagar follows with 15.63%. In contrast, Karnataka recorded a slower start, with Bagalkot at 11.87% and Davangere South at 9.01%.

The Key Contenders The bypolls are witnessing intense battles, often involving the next generation of political families. In Karnataka’s Bagalkot, Congress candidate Umesh Meti, son of late leader HY Meti, faces BJP’s Veerabhadrayya Charantimath. Davangere South sees Samarth Mallikarjun, son of Minister SS Mallikarjun, battling BJP’s Srinivas T. Dasakariyappa. In Nagaland, Daochier I Imchen, son of the late veteran leader Imkong L. Imchen, is the BJP’s face for Koridang. Tripura’s Dharmanagar is witnessing a three-way fight between BJP’s Jahar Chakraborty, Congress’s Chayan Bhattacharya, and CPI(M)’s Amitabh Dutta. While the Goa (Ponda) by-poll remains canceled, results for these contests are scheduled to be announced on May 4.