All eyes will especially be on Bengal, which voted in the BJP – and Tamil Nadu, where actor-politician Vijay’s new party Tamilaga Vettri Khazagham won an unprecedented victory. Six bye-elections across three states and a Union Territory will be held today – a series of closely watched contests that could be a referendum to the new governments elected earlier this year.
Bengal’s big contest will be on Nandigram – which was won by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari who chose to keep Kolkata’s Bhabanipur, the seat of his predecessor Mamata Banerjee. But the BJP’s performance will be most closely watched In Rejinagar, won by Trinamool’s rebel leader Humayun Kabir who later formed his own party. The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, mother of Chandranath Rath, a former aide of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, from the constituency. Chandranath Rath was killed shortly after the Assembly election victory. The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool faction has decided to support Congress candidate Milan Pradhan after its nominee withdrew. The contest turned triangular as the Trinamool faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee fielded Mohammad Eteshamul Haque. The CPI is also in the fray. The contest here will be multi-cornered, with the BJP, the Congress, the CPM, the two Trinamool factions, and the Aam Janata Unnayan Party in fray. The AJUP has fielded Golam Nabi Azad, son of Kabir, who vacated the seat after retaining Nowda. The two by-polls in the southern state will be a test for Vijay’s TVK, which fell short of majority after the April election and had to tie-up with the Congress to form government.
In Madurantakam and Dharapuram, K Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama had switched to the TVK after winning on AIADMK tickets. Vijay has campaigned extensively in both constituencies, bringing jabs from the Opposition which claimed that itshows a complete lack of confidence.
