Counting of votes for the bypolls held in four assembly seats in West Bengal and the Rupauli assembly seat in Bihar commenced on Saturday, with security measures tightened to ensure a smooth process, maintained the Election Commission.
In West Bengal, the counting began at 8 am for the Maniktala, Bagdah, Ranaghat Dakshin, and Raiganj seats.
“We have made adequate security arrangements in and around the counting centres. Apart from the state police, central forces are also deployed,” an EC official informed.
The voter turnout varied across the constituencies, with Raiganj recording the highest at 71.99 per cent.
Ranaghat Dakshin followed with 70.56 per cent, Bagdah with 68.44 per cent, and Maniktala with 54.98 per cent. The bypolls for these seats were held on July 10.
Simultaneously, in Bihar’s Purnea district, the counting of votes for the Rupauli assembly bypoll also began at 8 am.
The by-election was prompted by the resignation of sitting MLA Bima Bharti, who switched allegiances from JD(U) to RJD, contesting the Lok Sabha election unsuccessfully before vying for her former seat.
The voter turnout for Rupauli stood at 52.75 per cent. Bharti, now an RJD candidate, has received support from Independent MP Pappu Yadav.
JD(U) fielded Kaladhar Prasad Mandal, who previously contested the 2020 assembly polls as an Independent, among a total of 11 candidates in the fray.
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