Demonetisation: Byelections to reveal mood on cash shake-up

New Delhi: Byelections for four Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats were held in six states and the Union Territory of Puducherry, the results of which will indicate people’s reaction to the Centre’s shock withdrawal of two high-value banknotes.

The government has said people support the November 8 move despite some inconvenience as the target is black money, corruption and counterfeit currency. Opposition parties have claimed deaths in winding queues before banks and ATMs to deposit Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes or just to withdraw cash have turned people against the government.

The Congress already swept on Friday the panchayat polls in Gujarat’s Unjha.

Necessitated by deaths and resignations, two Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal and one each in Assam and Madhya Pradesh are up for grabs. By-polls are also being held for three assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, two in Tripura, one each in Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh and Puducherry. The results would be announced on November 22.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has hit the streets of Delhi protesting against the government move, which she says will hurt landless farmers and labourers. Most opposition parties and even some NDA constituents such as Shiv Sena have been protesting the government’s demonetisation move.

In West Bengal, by-polls are being held in the Lok Sabha seats of Tamluk and Cooch Behar and the Assembly constituency of Monteshwar. By-elections are being held in Tripura for assembly seats in Khowai and Barjala.

In Tamil Nadu, by-polls are being held in Thanjavur, Aravakurichi and Tiruparakundram seats. A total of 7.54 lakh voters are expected to choose among 81 candidates from AIADMK, DMK, BJP and MDMK. Polling in Thanjavur and Aravakurichi was not conducted during the assembly elections in April-May due to the alleged distribution of cash and liquor.

In Assam, voting is taking place across 2,200 polling stations in the parliamentary constituency of Lakhimpur and assembly constituency of Baithalangso. While the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat has been vacant since sitting MP Sarbananda Sonowal resigned to become the chief minister, Baithalangso’s legislator Mansing Rongpi resigned from the Congress and joined the BJP.

The BJP had romped home to victory in the Assembly elections in Assam, the Saturday bypolls will show people’s mood after demonetisation.

An estimated 72 per cent electorate exercised their franchise today in the by-election to Hayuliang constituency in the remote Anjaw district, bordering China, of Arunachal Pradesh, amid a massive security blanket.