Bypolls in Gujarat and Jharkhand: Why Jasdan and Kolebira hold the key

The contests in the two consituencies come days after the verdict in the five Assembly polls, and three months before LS elections; their results would indicate the public mood in these two states

The electorate in the assembly constituencies of Kolebira in Jharkhand and Jasdan in Gujarat vote today in a bypoll. By 11 a.m., Kolebira had recorded a respectable 25.34 per cent turnout and a similar number had queued up to exercise its franchise in Jasdan. The counting of votes is on Sunday.

Both Kolebira, in Jharkhand's Simdega district, and Jasdan, in Gujarat's Rajkot, are interesting contests, as they come days after the results to the five Assembly polls, including that of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and barely three months before the Lok Sabha polls.

The results would indicate the public mood in