Bypolls: Voting underway in 54 seats across 10 states

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Voting was underway on Tuesday for by-elections to 54 assembly constituencies spread across 10 states, including 28 seats in Madhya Pradesh where the Bharatiya Janata Party is locked in a keen contest with the Congress to save its government.

All COVID-19 guidelines were in place as polling began with election staff in personal protective equipment suits, more polling booths to prevent overcrowding, thermal screening, sanitisers and masks and gloves for voters as well as markings to ensure social distancing, officials said.

Voting started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm, except in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Nagaland. The number of people allowed in a polling booth has been restricted. The last hour has been reserved for voters who have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said.

The votes will be counted on November 10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to vote in large numbers. “Today, there are bypolls taking place in various places across India. I urge those voting in these seats to vote in large numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy,” he said in a tweet.