The Jalandhar West assembly bypolls, held amidst heightened political fervour and intrigue on Wednesday, concluded with a notable decline in voter participation, marking a sharp contrast to the previous elections. The Election Commission reported a turnout of 55 percent, down from the 67 percent recorded in the 2022 state assembly elections.
 
The constituency, which saw its seat vacated following the resignation of Sheetal Angural, witnessed a heated multi-cornered contest involving key players from the AAP, Congress, BJP, and other significant parties. The bypoll was not merely a battle for electoral supremacy but also a litmus test of public sentiment ahead of broader state dynamics.
 
Surinder Kaur, representing the Congress party, leveraged the campaign trail to critique the AAP’s governance, portraying the bypoll as a referendum on current administrative policies. In contrast, AAP’s candidate Mohinder Bhagat exuded confidence in securing victory, buoyed by the party's recent electoral gains and promises of reform.
 
The BJP, fielding Sheetal Angural, faced challenges beyond electoral rhetoric. Allegations of electoral malpractice surfaced during polling hours, with accusations levied against AAP activists for alleged voter inducements and irregularities, which were promptly refuted but highlighted ongoing tensions.
 
Moreover, the Shiromani Akali Dal’s initial endorsement of Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Binder Kumar, followed by a retraction and subsequent support split, added another layer of complexity to an already contentious electoral landscape. The fractured support base within SAD underscored internal party dynamics and strategic alignments crucial for future electoral maneuvers.
 
Unique initiatives such as distributing plant gifts to voters at polling stations aimed to foster environmental consciousness amidst the electoral process. However, controversies over the application of indelible ink on voters’ middle fingers instead of the traditional index finger stirred minor procedural debates but did not impede the voting process significantly.
 
During the voting process, tensions escalated in Jalandhar as BJP activists intercepted an individual in possession of a suspicious list allegedly detailing payments of Rs 2,000 to certain individuals. The BJP promptly alerted the police about this discovery.
 
Amidst this, rumours spread regarding the purported arrest of Rajan Angural, the brother of BJP candidate Sheetal Angural. In response, Rajan Angural, accompanied by the BJP district chief, convened a press conference to denounce the AAP’s alleged dissemination of false information and baseless accusations.
 
Meanwhile, Sheetal Angural himself addressed the media, expressing grave concerns over threats made against him and his supporters. Concurrently, Congress state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring made a decisive move by arriving in Jalandhar West, where he met with the police commissioner to emphasize the importance of upholding a fair and transparent electoral process, especially in light of mounting allegations of electoral misconduct and the need to maintain public trust in democratic practices.
 
For Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the bypoll represented more than a local electoral skirmish; it symbolized a critical test of his party’s endurance and popularity following recent setbacks in broader national contests. The outcome held implications not only for AAP but also for rival Congress and BJP factions, each eager to reclaim or reinforce their political foothold amidst shifting voter allegiances and regional sentiments.
 
This seat is witnessing a triangular contest, featuring prominent candidates including Sheetal Angural — a former AAP MLA now seeking reelection as BJP nominee; Mohinder Bhagat — son of a former BJP Minister and now contesting for AAP; and Surinder Kaur — a former senior deputy mayor representing the Congress party.
 
Notably, the constituency has a unique history where a new party has emerged victorious in every election cycle. In 2012, it was the BJP, followed by the Congress in 2017, and most recently, AAP claimed victory in 2022.
 
As the Election Commission prepares to tally votes and declare results on July 13, anticipation mounts regarding the implications of voter turnout trends and their reflections on public trust in political leadership.
 
71% turnout recorded in HP’s 3 assembly bypolls
 
PNS/Shimla
 
Himachal Pradesh witnessed a significant voter turnout of over 71 percent across three Assembly constituencies in the state’s bypolls, held peacefully until 7 pm on Wednesday, according to official reports from the Election Commission of India.
 
Nalagarh constituency recorded the highest voter participation at nearly 78 percent, followed by Hamirpur with 67.7 percent, and Dehra with 65.42 percent. These elections were necessitated by the resignation of incumbent members, with a total of 13 candidates competing for the votes of approximately 2.59 lakh eligible voters. The counting of votes is scheduled for July 13.
 
In the spotlight was Dehra, a constituency historically challenging for the Congress party. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu actively campaigned for his wife Kamlesh Thakur, who made her electoral debut. The constituency, formed post-delimitation in 2010, has never been won by the Congress. Thakur faced competition from BJP's Hoshiyar Singh, seeking to capitalize on recent electoral gains in the State.
 
Meanwhile, the BJP fielded KL Thakur in Nalagarh and Ashish Sharma in Hamirpur. Both Thakur and Sharma had previously won as Independent candidates in 2022 before joining the BJP earlier this year. They contested against Congress nominees — Hardeep Bawa and Pushpendra Verma — in their respective constituencies.
 
The state’s Chief Electoral Officer Maneesh Garg expressed gratitude to the voters and commended the Election Commission of India and the Himachal Pradesh Election Department for their meticulous planning and execution of the electoral process. He highlighted the extensive measures taken to ensure transparency and security during polling.
 
Garg emphasized the successful implementation of real-time monitoring through webcasting at 315 polling stations, enhancing transparency and oversight. The polling stations also included provisions for home voting for elderly voters and Persons with Disabilities (PwD), ensuring inclusivity in the electoral process. Additionally, model and green polling stations were set up to facilitate smooth conduct of voting.
 
Security arrangements were robust, contributing to a peaceful polling day across all constituencies. Garg noted that no untoward incidents were reported, underscoring the effective coordination between law enforcement agencies and election officials.
 
During the election period, enforcement agencies enforced the model code of conduct rigorously, resulting in significant seizures valued at approximately Rs 3.4 crore. This joint effort aimed to maintain integrity and fairness throughout the electoral process.
 
As parties await the results on July 13, political observers anticipate the bypolls’ impact on Himachal Pradesh’s legislative assembly dynamics. In a major reprieve to the Congress-led State Government, the grand old party had won four out of six assembly bypoll on June 1. However, it lost all four Lok Sabha seats to the BJP for the third time in a row.
 
With four new MLAs, the Congress has stabilized its government in the state. At present, the Congress has 38 MLAs in the Assembly of 65, while the BJP has 27.