Bypolls for three assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh and one in Punjab's Jalandhar West saw a significant turnout of voters on Wednesday.
According to the state election department, Himachal Pradesh recorded a 71% voter turnout, with the highest polling recorded in Nalagarh at 78.1%. Hamirpur and Dehra saw 67.1% and 65.2% turnout, respectively.
In Jalandhar West, the voter turnout was 51.30%, according to the Election Commission's Voter Turnout app.
The bypolls in Himachal Pradesh were necessitated after three Independent legislators resigned from the state assembly and joined the BJP. The party has fielded them from their respective seats.
Their resignations, however, were accepted by the speaker on June 3. Their seats were declared vacant, necessitating the bypolls.
The BJP has fielded all the three Independent MLAs from their respective seats. The Congress has fielded Kamlesh Thakur, wife of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, from Dehra, repeated its candidate Pushpinder Verma from Hamirpur and gave ticket to five-time Indian National Trade Union Congress president, Himachal Pradesh unit, Hardeep Singh Baba, from Nalagarh.
Singh said it is a fight between the "corrupt" Congress government in the state and innocent and honest people of Dehra.
In Jalandhar West, the bypoll was necessitated after AAP legislator Sheetal Angural resigned and joined the BJP.
Candidates from various political parties expressed confidence in their victory, with the results set to be declared on July 13.
The bypolls are seen as a litmus test for Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and a chance for the Congress to register a victory after winning seven Lok Sabha constituencies.
The BJP also hopes to taste victory in Jalandhar West after drawing a blank in the state in the Lok Sabha polls.
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