Assembly elections LIVE: Voting begins in Kerala, Assam, Puducherry

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday urged the people of Kerala to vote for one that listens, cares and delivers.

In a post on X, Kharge said Kerala's strength has been its unity in diversity and asked them not to let that strength be weakened through division or distraction.

"My dear sisters and brothers of Keralam, You have always stood for education, dignity, secular values, and social justice. You have shown the nation what progressive thinking truly means. Now, once again, the responsibility lies in your hands.

"Over the past years, you have faced rising unemployment, financial distress, and growing uncertainty. Farmers, plantation workers, youth, and small business owners have all asked a simple question: 'Where is the relief? Where is the opportunity?'" Kharge said.

Noting that Kerala's strength has always been its unity in diversity, he said, "Do not let division or distraction weaken that strength." "I appeal to all to come out in large numbers and vote for a government that listens, cares, and delivers. Vote for justice. Vote for a better Keralam!" the Congress chief said.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also said that it is time to change and vote for the UDF.

"To each one of you in Keralam, I say from the heart, you deserve a government that listens to you, understands your struggles, and works day and night for your well-being, not for itself, not for corruption, and not merely to stay in power, but to put you first.

"It is time to choose change. And UDF is that change," she said in a post on X.

Voting was underway for bypolls to two Assembly segments—Bagalkot and Davanagere South—in Karnataka on Thursday.

The polls were necessitated by the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa. Counting of votes will be taken up on May 4.

Although the outcome of these by-elections is unlikely to have an immediate impact on state politics, the contest is seen as a matter of prestige for both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.

While the Congress faces the challenge of retaining both seats, the BJP is aiming to wrest them and deliver a setback to the ruling party, which is currently witnessing an "internal power struggle" over leadership.

Over 2.59 lakh eligible voters are expected to cast their votes in 319 polling stations in Bagalkot, where nine candidates are in the fray.

In Davanagere South, over 2.31 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchsie across 284 polling stations, with 25 candidates contesting.

The BJP has fielded former MLA and 2023 defeated candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath from Bagalkot, and a fresh face, Srinivas T Dasakariyappa, from Davanagere South.

The Congress has given tickets to family members of the late legislators in both constituencies. Umesh Meti is the son of H Y Meti, while Samarth Mallikarjun is the grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa.

Samarth's father, SS Mallikarjun, is a minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet and in charge of Davanagere district, while his mother, Prabha Mallikarjun, is a Member of Parliament from the region.

Muslim disgruntlement appears to be a concern for the Congress in Davanagere South. With 14 of the 25 candidates in the fray belonging to the community, there are apprehensions within the party about a split in votes, which could benefit the BJP.

The community had strongly demanded the Congress ticket for Davanagere South, given its significant presence in the constituency.

Some factions within the party had opposed giving the ticket to the Shamanur family.

Although the Congress persuaded rebel candidate Sadiq Pailwan to withdraw, he remains in the fray as the move came after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations.

In Bagalkot too, the Congress faced some dissidence, with other members of Meti's family seeking the ticket. Siddaramaiah's intervention helped resolve differences to an extent, and they campaigned together.

The BJP, in contrast, saw little dissidence over candidate selection, with its leaders campaigning in unity.

In the 2023 Assembly elections, H Y Meti defeated Charantimath by a margin of 5,878 votes in Bagalkot, while Shivashankarappa defeated BJP's B G Ajay Kumar by 27,888 votes in Davanagere South.

Voting for the byelection to Dharmanagar Assembly constituency in North Tripura district began at 7 am on Thursday amidst tight security, an official said.

A total of 46,142 voters will decide the fate of six candidates in the bypoll.

Women voters of 23,758 outnumber the 22,348 male electorate.

“Polling for the byelection in all 55 booths began at 7 am amidst tight security. Voters were seen standing in queues in various polling centres to exercise their democratic right”, returning officer Debjani Choudhury said.

"An elaborate security arrangement has been made to ensure free, fair and violence-free voting. In view of a possible cyclone between April 8 and 10, adequate sheds have been set up at all booths," she added.

The byelection is set to witness a multi-cornered battle with all the three major parties- BJP, Left Front and Congress contesting separately.

The bypoll was necessitated following the death of Assembly speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen of the BJP in December last year.

Polling for the Koridang Assembly bypoll in Nagaland commenced on Thursday amid heightened security, following a recent election-related violence that has claimed one life.

Six candidates are in the fray for the assembly bypoll necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L Imchen (75) on November 11 last year.

The BJP, which is part of the ruling People's Democratic Alliance (PDA), has fielded the deceased MLA's son Daochier I. Imchen, while the Congress has nominated T. Chalukumba Ao for the seat. The NPP candidate is I Abenjang, and the Independents are Imchatoba Imchen, Imtiwapang, and Toshikaba.

A total of 22,382 people, including 11,071 women, are eligible to exercise their franchise.

Of the total polling stations, 13 have been categorised as vulnerable and 17 critical, where additional security personnel have been deployed, and surveillance intensified. Two polling booths have all-women staff.

Security has been significantly tightened across the constituency following violence on April 5 and 6, in which one person died, and several vehicles were damaged.

Around 2.71 crore voters will decide the fate of the 883 candidates who are contesting from the 140 Assembly constituencies in Kerala.

The electorate comprises 1.32 crore men, 1.39 crore women and 273 transgender persons, along with over 2.42 lakh overseas voters, according to Election Commission (EC) figures.

In order to handle such a huge electoral exercise, the EC has deployed 1.42 lakh trained personnel.

The voters will also decide whether the LDF should secure a consecutive third term or if the UDF or NDA present viable alternatives.

The poll outcome will also indicate whether the state is headed towards a shift from the traditional pattern of governance which alternates between the LDF and the UDF as an assertive BJP has billed itself as a viable alternative to the CPI(M) and Congress headed blocs.

People started arriving early in the morning at the 30,495 polling stations in the state to avoid the hot weather that was likely to get worse as the day progressed.

Congress senior and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan arrived early for voting with his wife and daughter at their polling booth in Paravoor constituency.

Similarly, BJP's Vattiyoorkavu Assembly candidate R Sreelekha and Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism Suresh Gopi also showed up early for voting.

Polling is being carried out amid tight security arrangements, including the deployment of over 76,000 security personnel and live monitoring of the election process by an extensive webcasting system.

Polling for all 126 Assam assembly constituencies began on Thursday to decide the electoral fate of 722 candidates.

In the high-stakes election, the ruling BJP is aiming for a third consecutive term in office, while the Congress seeks to wrest power after being ousted in 2016.

An electorate of 2.50 crore, including 1.25 crore women and 318 from the third gender, can exercise their franchise in 31,490 polling stations across the state.

Prominent candidates include Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress state president Gaurav Gogoi, assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, Leader of the opposition Debabrata Saikia, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi, and Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi.

Several cabinet ministers, including the AGP’s Atul Bora and Keshav Mahanta, and the BPF’s Charan Boro are also in the fray.

The Congress has the highest of 99 contestants, followed by the BJP (90), AIUDF (30), NDA allies AGP (26) and BPF (11).

Opposition alliance’s Raijor Dal is contesting in 13, AJP in 10, CPI(M) in 3 and APHLC in 2. Outside the two coalitions, the AAP is contesting in 18 seats, UPPL in 18, TMC 22, JMM 16 and there are 258 independents.

The ruling NDA’s main constituents are the BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodo Peoples’ Front (BPF) while the opposition alliance comprises the Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), CPI(M), All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) and CPI(ML).

Around 9.50 lakh voters will decide the electoral fate of 294 candidates in the Assembly elections in Puducherry on April 9.

The polling will begin at 7 am in Puducherry and its enclaves of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam which together have 30 Assembly seats.

The union territory has 1,099 polling stations and of them 209 have been identified as vulnerable.

Thirty polling stations would be managed exclusively by women staff and 15 booths would be operated by young officers. Two polling stations would be operated by persons with disabilities.

The union territory has 24,919 new voters.

Senior citizens and differently-abled voters will be assisted by volunteers at the booths to reach the polling stations to cast their votes and also for their safe return to their homes. Wheelchairs will be available. The election authorities have engaged 2,200 young voters to take care of them.

Of the total 294 candidates contesting the Assembly polls, 40 are women.

Oulgaret, Mudaliarpet, Nellithope and Nettapakkam (reserved) constituencies have 14 candidates each, which is the maximum number of contestants in the April 9 polls.

A nine-member delegation from six countries—Kyrgyz Republic, Ivory Coast, Moldova, Mongolia, Guyana and Bhutan—would familiarise themselves with the polling process in two polling stations on Thursday.

They will visit the booths housed in VOC Government Boys Higher Secondary school in Mission street in the town and also at the Government Middle school in Kizhoor village in Oussudu Assembly constituency. Oussudu (reserved) segment has five contestants.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made at all the polling stations, including installation of surveillance cameras and webcasting facility.

Besides major political parties, newly floated parties are also in the fray.

The NDA comprising AINRC, BJP, AIADMK and LJK faces a challenge from the INDIA bloc comprising the Congress, DMK and the VCK.

While the NDA is fighting to retain its “double engine” governance, the opposition bloc is making a push to regain power in the union territory, focusing on issues of local autonomy and administrative friction.

Actor Vijay's newly formed TVK has emerged as a significant third force fielding candidates across the union territory.

In addition to the two major alliances, candidates of the CPI, CPI(M), Naam Tamizhar Katchi and a few other outfits are also contesting.

Among the political bigwigs in the fray is AINRC leader and Chief Minister N Rangasamy, who is contesting from Thattanchavady and Mangalam segments.