The by-elections are scheduled for July 10, after 3 Independent MLAs - Ashish Sharma (Hamirpur), Hoshiyar Singh (Dehra), and KL Thakur (Nalagarh) - resigned from the assembly on March 22 and joined the BJP the following day. 

The new council of ministers under Prime Minister Narendra Modi features significant representation from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar lead with nine and four cabinet berths respectively, while Maharashtra has six.

Experts are closely monitoring the RBI's stance on interest rates and inflation expectations. Kapoor warns of potential risks to India's growth outlook due to global economic slowdowns and geopolitical tensions, suggesting that a rate cut cycle in India may not commence before the last quarter of FY25.

The Congress was leading in seven seats, and the CPI (M) in one, while an Independent candidate was also ahead, stated Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal.