Peacefull polling is on for by-elections to 18 Assembly seats spread over four States of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Karnataka. about 17 per cent polling was recorded in ten setas of Bihar, and 25 per cent on 3 seats of Madhya Pradesh when the reports last came in.

2 seats in Punjab and 3 in Karnataka are also going bye-polls today.

In Bihar, BJP has fielded candidates at 9 seats, while giving one seat to its alliance partner Lok Janshakti Party.

On the other hand, the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal are contesting from four seats each, whereas the Congress has fielded its candidates from two seats. Prestige is at stake for both the BJP-led NDA and the newly formed grand alliance of the JD(U), RJD and Congress.

Both Assembly seats in Punjab are likely to witness a triangular contest between ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party.

In Karnataka, of the three seats, the Congress holds one and the BJP two. The polls will test Chief Minister K. Siddaramaiah’s ability to face an election in the aftermath of the setback in the Lok Sabha elections.

In Madhya Pradesh, 3 assembly segments going to the polls are Agar, Bahoriband and Vijay Raghavgarh.

The counting of votes will be taken up on the 25th of this month.