Bypolls to 1 Lok Sabha, three assembly seats in HP on Oct 30
Model code of conduct comes into effect in 8 districts that come under these constituencies
will be held in strict adherence to the Covid protocols.
All polling officials shall be double vaccinated against Covid-19.
Seats fell vacant after death of incumbents
The Mandi Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after the death of Ramswaroop Sharma, who was found dead at his Delhi residence in March this year.
The Congress is considering fielding former Congress member of Parlaiament Pratibha Singh, who is the wife of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, from the Mandi seat even as the BJP has kept its cards close to its chest. The Arki assembly byelection was necessitated after the death of sitting MLA and six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh on July 8.
Both the BJP and the Congress are yet to reveal the name of their candidates. The ruling BJP is facing rebellion from former MLA Govind Singh Thakur, who is already in campaign mode.
Keen contest for BJP ticket in Fatehgarh, Jubbal-kotkhai
The Jubbal-kotkhai seat in Shimla district and Fatehpur in Kangra fell vacant following the death of incumbent legislators Narinder Bragta in June and Sujan Singh Pathania in February. Bragta’s son Chetan is tipped to be the BJP’S choice for Jubbal-kotkhai as the party
tries to cash in on sympathy votes though there are a few other party leaders vying for the ticket. For the Congress, Rohit Thakur, a former chief parliamentary secretary, is the obvious choice.
In the politically significant Kangra district, Pathania’s son Bhawani Singh Pathania has staked claim to the Congress
ticket from Fatehpur. Bhawani Singh quit a career in the banking and insurance sectors to take the political plunge. He has already launched his poll campaign.
For the BJP, selecting a candidate will not be easy as there is tough competition between former MP Kripal Parmar and local leader Baldev Thakur.