LIVE: By-elections begin on 7 assembly seats in 6 states

According to the Election Commission, elections will be held for Ghosi in Uttar Pradesh, Bageshwar in Uttarakhand, Dhupguri in Bengal, Dumri in Jharkhand, Puthupalli in Kerala, Boxanagar in Tripura and Dhanpur. The results of these elections will come on 8 September.

Elections are being held on Ghosi and Dhanpur seats due to the resignation of the sitting MLAs. Elections are being held on the remaining five seats due to the demise of the sitting MLA.

INDIA alliance will contest elections together on 5 seats
INDIA alliance is contesting together on 5 seats- Ghosi (UP), Bageshwar (Uttarakhand), Dumri (Jharkhand), Boxanagar and Dhanpur (Tripura). Whereas, in Dhupguri (Bengal) and Puthupalli (Kerala), INDIA alliance parties are contesting elections against each other.

Ghosi seat became vacant after resignation of SP MLA
The Ghosi seat in Uttar Pradesh fell vacant after the resignation of Samajwadi Party MLA Dara Singh Chauhan in July. Dara Singh had left SP and joined BJP. Now he is contesting elections again on BJP ticket. Congress and Left parties are supporting SP candidate Sudhakar Singh against him. There is a direct contest between BJP and Congress on Bageshwar seat of Uttarakhand.

CO came out with sticks for safe voting in Ghosi
Voting for by-election has started in Ghosi assembly seat of Mau. A long line of voters started outside the polling booth at 7 am itself. At the same time, polling has been disrupted in Booth No. 61 and Booth No. 9 due to breakdown of EVM machine.

BJP's Dara Singh Chauhan is in a direct fight with SP's Sudhakar Singh on this seat. Dara Singh resigned from SP's legislature and joined BJP. After this, BJP has made him its candidate.