Simaria (Jharkhand)/ Keskal (Chhattisgarh), Feb 4: Voting for bypoll to Simaria Assembly seat in Jharkhand and Keskal Assembly seat in Chhattisgarh began today amidst tight security.

While the Simaria Assembly seat fell vacant after the death of BJP member Upendra Nath Das, the by-election in Keskal was necessitated following the death of Mahesh Baghel (MLA) in a fatal road accident a couple of months ago.

In Simaria, 14 candidates are in the fray.

In Keskal, about one-and-a-half lakh voters are expected to cast their votes to decide the fate of five candidates.

The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress are strong contenders for the Keskal Assembly seat.

Out of the total 150 polling booths, 100 booths have been declared as sensitive in Keskal. Twenty-six companies of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure a free and fair election. Micro observers have also been pressed into service to oversee the polling process in 36 polling locations. (ANI)