Assembly bypoll in Tarn Taran, two J&K seats on Nov 11

Byelections for eight assembly seats across six states and the UT of Jammu and Kashmir will be held on November 11. The seats are Tarn Taran (Punjab), Budgam and Nagrota (Jammu and Kashmir), Anta (Rajasthan), Ghatsila (Jharkhand), Jubilee Hills (Telangana), Nuapada (Odisha) and Dampa (Mizoram). These byelections will coincide with the second phase of polling for the Bihar assembly elections and all results will be announced together on November 14.

The byelection in Tarn Taran was triggered by the death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal in June. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Budgam seat was vacated after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who won both Budgam and Ganderbal in the last election and chose to retain Ganderbal. The Nagrota seat fell vacant after the death of sitting BJP MLA Devender Singh Rana.

In Rajasthan, the Anta seat became vacant after BJP MLA Kanwarlal Meena was disqualified following his conviction for pointing a pistol at a sub-divisional magistrate.

The Ghatsila bypoll in Jharkhand was necessitated by the death of sitting MLA and Education Minister Ramdas Soren of the JMM, while the Jubilee Hills seat in Telangana fell vacant after the death of MLA Maganti Gopinath. The Nuapada bypoll was triggered by the death of BJD MLA and former minister Rajendra Dholakia, and in Mizoram, the Dampa seat became vacant after the death of incumbent MNF legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo.

Nagrota is expected to witness a direct contest between the BJP and the National Conference-led alliance, while Budgam is likely to see a triangular fight among the National Conference, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Peoples Alliance for Change.