Updated On: 05 September, 2023 06:16 PM IST | Asif Ali Sayed
The polling for by-election to seven Assembly seats in six states began on Tuesday. It is said to be the first electoral test of the I-N-D-I-A opposition bloc against the BJP. The counting of votes will be held on September 8. Pics/PTI

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While the opposition alliance is putting up a united front in Ghosi constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand`s Dumri, Dhanpur and Boxanagar in Tripura and Uttarakhand`s Bageshwar, its constituents are contesting against each other in Dhupguri in West Bengal and Puthuppally in Kerala
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In Uttar Pradesh, Ghosi seat fell vacant after the resignation of Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA and OBC leader Dara Singh Chauhan, who rejoined the BJP

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While the ruling BJP-led NDA has fielded Chauhan, Samajwadi Party candidate Sudhakar Singh has got the support of the Congress and Left parties. Chauhan was a minister in the previous BJP government headed by Yogi Adityanath. He had resigned from the Council of Ministers on January 12, 2022 and switched to the SP
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Campaigning has been high-pitched as both sides are aware that it is a litmus test for the opposition unity and a victory could set the trend in their favour for the Lok Sabha polls next year. In the 543-member Lok Sabha, Uttar Pradesh has 80 MPs

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led the BJP`s charge. Interestingly, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who had skipped campaigning for the other two prestigious bypolls in Rampur and Azamgarh last year, addressed an election meeting in Ghosi
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The iconic Lalbaugcha Raja idol was shifted onto a raft on Sunday afternoon after delays since morning due to high tide and technical challenges, with final immersion, delayed by several hours, expected to take place around 11 pm, officials said.