Bypolls in 1 Lok Sabha, 5 Assembly seats tomorrow
What's the story
The stage is set for by-polls to one Lok Sabha and five Assembly seats in various states in India's eastern region tomorrow.
The five seats where Assembly by-polls will be held are Maheshtala in West Bengal, Gomia and Silli in Jharkhand, Jokihat in Bihar and Ampati in Meghalaya.
By-election will also be held in the lone Nagaland Lok Sabha seat.
Nagaland
Bypolls in Nagaland necessitated after NDPP leader resigns
The Nagaland seat was necessitated after the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader Neiphiu Rio, now CM of Nagaland, resigned as a Lok Sabha member in February.
It will be a test of strength between the candidate of Naga People's Front (NPF) supported by Congress and the nominee of ruling People's Democratic Alliance (PDA), which has NDPP and BJP as it major constituents.
Candidates
PDA fields Tokheho Yepthomi, while Congress supports Apok Jamir
The PDA has fielded former minister Tokheho Yepthomi in Nagaland, while Congress extended support to NPF candidate C Apok Jamir.
"Our primary concern is to save Nagaland from communal forces. We hope Jamir will uphold the principles of secularism and liberal democracy," NPCC chief K Therie said.
BJP spokesperson K James Vizo said the Congress was leveling charges against them "out of desperation."
Assembly bypolls
West Bengal to witness a three-corner contest
The bypoll in Mahestala Assembly seat in WB will mainly witness a three-corner contest with the ruling TMC, the BJP and Left Front in the fray.
TMC has fielded Dulal Das, husband of late party MLA Kasturi Das, whose death has necessitated bypolls.
The BJP has nominated Sujit Ghosh, former joint-director of CBI, while Left Front has given ticket to Prabhat Chowdhury, a local.
Jharkhand
In Jharkhand, main contest is between BJP, AJSU, Mukti Morchas
In Jharkhand's Gomia Assembly seat, though there is a total of 13 candidates, the main contest is between BJPs Madhavlal Singh, AJSU's Lambodar Mahto and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's Babita Devi, wife of disqualified MLA Yogendra Mahto.
In Silli, the main contest will be between former Deputy CM and AJSU president Sudesh Mahto and Seema Mahto, wife of disqualified MLA Amit Mahto.
Information
Why were elections in Gomia and Silli seats necessitated?
The bypoll in both Gomia and Silli Assembly seats were necessitated following the conviction of Yogendra Mahto (Gomia) and Amit Mahto (Silli). Both were elected on JMM tickets in the 2014 Assembly elections.
Bihar
In Bihar, the fight will be held between JD(U), RJD
In Bihar, it would be another test of strength between Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) and RJD of Lalu Prasad.
While Araria MP Sarfaraz Alam's younger brother Shahnawaz filed nomination papers as an RJD candidate, the JD(U) has fielded Murshid Alam, a former village Mukhiya who joined the party a few years ago.
Jokihat by-election comes 2-months after RJD succeeded in retaining Araria LS seat.
Information
Why was bypolls necessitated in Jokihat Assembly seat?
The by-election to Jokihat Assembly seat of Bihar has been necessitated due to the resignation of JD(U) MLA Sarfaraz Alam, who quit the party earlier this year and got elected on an RJD ticket to the Lok Sabha from Araria.
Meghalaya
Meghalaya: By-election will witness fight between Congress, BJP, independent candidate
The by-election in Meghalaya's Ampati seat will witness a fight between the Congress and the BJP-backed National Peoples Party. An independent candidate is also in the fray.
Former Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has vacated the Ampati seat which necessitated the bypoll.
The Congress had won 21 seats in February Assembly polls, which have now come down to 20 with Sangma vacating his.
Bypoll
Congress fields Mukul Sangma's daughter Miani D Shira as candidate
The Congress has fielded Mukul Sangma's daughter Miani D Shira as its candidate while Clement G Momin is pitted against her as the candidate of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance.
The NPP with 19 MLAs is leading a coalition government with the support of the UDP (6), PDF (4), HSPDP (2), BJP (2), NCP (1) and an Independent.