Kedarnath By Polls 2024: The Election Commission has announced the dates for by-elections across the country on Tuesday. These by-elections will be held for 48 assembly seats and 2 Lok Sabha seats in 13 states. The major elections among these will be held on Kedarnath assembly seat of Uttarakhand, Wayanad Lok Sabha seat of Kerala and Nanded Lok Sabha seat of Maharashtra. Political stir is especially intense regarding the by-election on Kedarnath assembly seat of Uttarakhand. 

Status of Kedarnath Assembly Seat
The Kedarnath assembly seat in Uttarakhand fell vacant after the death of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Shaila Rani Rawat. Shaila Rani Rawat played an important role in strengthening the BJP in her political life. Her health was not good for some time, and she passed away in 2024. Her death left the seat vacant, on which a by-election will now be held on November 20. Counting of votes will take place on November 23 and the results will be declared on the same day. 

Kedarnath seat, which is considered important from religious and political point of view in Uttarakhand, is a prestige battle for the BJP. The opposition is also trying to make its strong presence felt on this seat so that BJP can be challenged. BJP has not yet announced its candidate, but the party is making all efforts to retain this seat. 

By-elections will be held on national level
along with Kedarnath on other assembly and Lok Sabha seats. Voting has been scheduled for 47 assembly seats and 1 Lok Sabha seat (Wayanad of Kerala) across the country on November 13. Wayanad Lok Sabha seat of Kerala was vacant after the resignation of former Congress President Rahul Gandhi. There is a lot of hustle and bustle among the political parties regarding the by-election on Wayanad seat, and all the major parties are preparing their strategy.

By-election is also to be held on 20 November for Nanded Lok Sabha seat of Maharashtra. This seat was vacant after the death of former Congress leader Ashok Chavan. A tough fight can be seen between Congress and BJP on this seat.