Trends from bypolls across seven states on Friday pointed to tight contests, heavy security deployment and brisk counting across multiple Assembly seats.
Jubilee Hills bypoll
Over in Telangana’s Jubilee Hills, the Indian National Congress candidate Naveen Kumar Yadav has won the assembly bypoll, securing 98,988 votes. He defeated Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s Maganti Sunitha Gopinath, who received 74,259 votes, a margin of 24,729 votes.
BJP candidate Deepak Reddy Lankala trailed far behind with 17,061 votes.
Counting, conducted in 10 rounds with a 48.49% voter turnout, saw Yadav maintain a steady lead over BRS throughout, ensuring a decisive victory for the Congress in the constituency.
Nuapada bypoll
The BJP tightened its grip on the Nuapada Assembly bypoll as party candidate Jay Dholakia surged ahead, securing 123,869 votes after 29 rounds of counting, putting him 83,748 votes ahead of his nearest rival.
The real contest has shifted to the battle for second place, with Congress candidate Ghasi Ram Majhi trailing at 40,121 votes, just ahead of BJD’s Snehangini Chhuria, who has 38,408 votes, a narrow gap of 1,713 votes separating the two.
The BJP’s commanding lead underscores the constituency’s strong tilt towards the saffron party, while Congress and BJD appear locked in a close fight for the runner-up position.
Nagrota, Budgam bypoll
Devyani, daughter of the late BJP leader Devender Singh Rana, secured 42,350 votes, while former minister and J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP) candidate Harsh Dev Singh received 17,703 votes. National Conference candidate Shamim Begum finished third with 10,872 votes.
Ten candidates contested the seat, but the main contest was between Devyani, Harsh, and Shamim.
After her victory, Devyani thanked the voters and the party leadership for their support.
The Nagrota bypoll was necessitated following the death of Devyani’s father and sitting MLA, Devender Singh Rana, in October last year.
Meanwhile, in a major setback for the National Conference (NC) and the Omar Abdullah government, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has wrested the Budgam assembly seat from the ruling party.
PDP’s Aga Muntazir, capitalising on anti-incumbency sentiment against the Omar Abdullah government, defeated NC’s Aga Mahmood to claim the bypoll.
Seventeen candidates had contested the Budgam seat, which fell vacant after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah vacated it while retaining the Ganderbal seat. Omar had contested from two assembly constituencies in the 2024 polls and won both.
After his victory, Aga Muntazir said the electorate had voted for “change and accountability.”
“Budgam has remained unrepresented till date, and now it will be represented in every forum,” he added.
The bypoll was held amid growing public dissatisfaction with the Omar-led government, with voters expressing frustration over unfulfilled promises, including job creation, installation of smart power meters, 200 units of free electricity, 12 subsidised LPG cylinders, and a fair reservation policy.
This discontent amplified anti-incumbency sentiment, challenging NC’s long-held dominance in the constituency. Adding to the party’s woes, influential Shia leader and Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah did not campaign for the NC candidate, citing dissatisfaction with the Omar government.
The Budgam seat has historically been an NC stronghold, with the party having never lost it since 1972. The PDP’s victory marks an unprecedented setback for the NC and underscores widespread public disappointment with the party’s performance and its failure to deliver on poll promises.
Tarn Taran bypoll
AAP's Harmeet Singh Sandhu wins Tarn Taran assembly bypoll, defeats SAD nominee Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa by margin of 12,091 votes
Sandhu had 32,520 votes against Randhawa's 22,284 when 12 out of the 16 rounds of counting was completed, the Election Commission website showed.
Independent candidate Mandeep Singh was in the third spot with 14,432 votes while Congress candidate Karanbir Singh Burj was fourth with 11,294 votes.
BJP's Harjit Singh Sandhu was a distant fifth with 4,653 votes.
The constituency saw 60.95% polling and went to bypolls following the death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal.
Ghatshila bypoll
In Jharkhand’s Ghatshila assembly bypoll, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate Somesh Chandra Soren is leading by 38,524 votes over his nearest rival, Babulal Soren of the BJP, after 20 rounds of counting.
Somesh Chandra Soren has secured 104,794 votes, while Babulal Soren trails with 66,270 votes. Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) candidate Ramdas Murmu is in third place with 11,542 votes.
Anta bypoll
Congress candidate Pramod Jain Bhaya won the Anta assembly bypoll in Rajasthan’s Baran district, securing 69,571 votes and defeating BJP nominee Morpal Suman by 15,612 votes. Suman received 53,959 votes, narrowly ahead of Independent candidate and Congress rebel Naresh Meena by 159 votes. Bhaya maintained his lead throughout the 15-candidate contest.
The bypoll was necessitated after BJP MLA Kanwar Lal Meena was disqualified following a criminal conviction. Bhaya, who lost to Meena in 2023, credited his victory to a shift in voter sentiment.
Pradesh Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra and former CM Ashok Gehlot hailed the win as a sign of anti-incumbency against the BJP, noting the party’s failure to connect with voters despite campaigns by senior leaders, including Vasundhara Raje and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.
The Anta constituency, part of the Hadoti belt, has a history of swinging between BJP and Congress. With this result, the BJP holds 118 seats in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly, Congress 67, and smaller parties the remainder.
Dampa bypoll
Mizoram's main opposition party, Mizo National Front (MNF), retained the Dampa assembly seat in Mamit district, with its candidate R Lalthangliana defeating his nearest rival, Vanlalsailova of the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), by a margin of 562 votes, according to the Election Commission.
Lalthangliana secured 6,981 votes, which is 40.23 per cent of the total vote share. With 6,419 votes, Vanlalsailova bagged 36.61 per cent of the total polled votes.
Congress nominee John Rotluangalian stood third, securing 2,394 votes, while BJP candidate Lalhmingthanga clinched fourth place, securing 1,541 votes.
(With inputs from PTI, Express News Service)